Sulfonated Polyether Ether Ketone Membrane and Its Properties for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Abstract

A fuel cell, a device transforming directly the chemical energy into electricity through a chemical reaction, is a source of clean energy in the future. Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC), uses a proton exchange polymer electrolyte which one of the key components developed to realize the commercialization of fuel cells in transportation and portable equipment. Poly Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) is a thermoplastic material that has a combination of physico-chemical and good mechanical properties. The introduction of sulphonic acid groups into the polymer chain is an easy strategy to improve the properties of PEEK. This research aims to study the effect of time and the temperature of sulfonation in the fabrication of sulfonated PEEK on the membrane characteristics such as water uptake, methanol permeability, Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC), degree of sulfonation and proton conductivity. The results indicated that sPEEK was potential candidate as proton conductive membrane for application of DMFC due to enhancement of proton conductivity although the methanol permeability also increases proportional with IEC or DS.