Composite Proton Exchange Membranes of Sulfonated Poly(ether ketone ether sulfone) (S-PEKES) and Molecular Sieve With High Mechanical Strength for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

Composite proton exchange membranes are prepared by solvent casting via the incorporation of molecular sieves 3A, 4A, and 5A into the sulfonated poly(ether ketone ether sulfone) (S-PEKES) at the sulfonation degree of 0.66, with varying the ratio at of 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% v/v. The influences of type and amount of the molecular sieves on the proton conductivity, methanol permeability, structural, thermal, and mechanical stabilities of the membranes are investigated. The composite membranes are characterized by FTIR, TGA, LCR meter, and GC techniques. All properties of the composite membrane are compared with the pristine S-PEKES and Nafion 117 membrane.

Keywords:

• Molecular sieve
• proton conductivity
• proton exchange membrane (PEM)
• sulfonated poly(ether ketone ether sulfone)