Back to Search
Start Over
Improved electrochemical performance of composite anion exchange membranes for fuel cells through cross linking of the polymer chain with functionalized graphene oxide.
- Source :
-
Journal of Membrane Science . Oct2020, Vol. 611, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Novel anion conductive nanocomposite membranes with superb hydroxide conductivity and chemical durability in alkaline conditions were prepared by the introduction of quaternary ammonium functionalized graphene oxide (Q-GO) into quaternized poly(arylene ether) (QPAE) random copolymer. Q-GO containing amino silane units, which induce ion cluster formation in the polymer matrix, was synthesized using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS) and (3-bromopropyl)trimethyl ammonium bromide (PTMA) as the main quaternization reagents. The chemical structures and morphologies of the polymers and inorganic nanofillers were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, FE-SEM, XPS, and SAXS. GO-(APTS- c -PTMA), the so called Q-GO, was used to expand the ion transfer sites and improve the physicochemical stability of the membrane. The electrochemical properties, thermal/mechanical properties, and chemical stabilities of the anion exchange membranes (AEMs) were investigated in accordance with different contents of GO-(APTS- c -PTMA). The π-π bonds between the polymer matrix and the Q-GO resulted in improved dimensional stability and mechanical properties in the composite membrane. The QPAE/GO-(APTS- c -PTMA) 0.7 wt% membrane showed the highest hydroxide conductivity of 114.2 mS cm−1 at 90 °C with an ion exchange capacity of 1.45 mmol g−1, which is 2.07 times higher than the pristine membrane (55.1 mS cm−1 at 90 °C). Furthermore, the single-cell performance of the QPAE/GO-(APTS- c -PTMA) 0.7 wt% as an AEM showed an excellent maximum power density of 135.8 mW cm−2 at 70 °C. Image 1 • Cheap and easy method for crosslinked anion exchange membrane (AEM) preparation for anion exchange membrane fuel cells AEMFC. • The composite AEMs showed highest hydroxide conductivity. • The prepared composite AEMs exhibit long-term chemical stability (>20 days). • The cell was stably operated at 60 °C for 120 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03767388
- Volume :
- 611
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Membrane Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 145070421
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118385