Sulfonated Poly (Ether Ether Ketone) / Barium Strontium Titanium Oxide Polymer Nanocomposite Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

ABSTRACT

Polymer nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and barium strontium titanium oxide (BSTO) have been prepared by solution casting technique. The SPEEK was obtained by direct sulfonation of poly (ether ether ketone) using concentrated sulfuric acid. The degree of sulfonation of SPEEK was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The composite membranes showed higher water uptake capacity when compared to SPEEK. The ion-exchange capacity of the composite membranes was found in the range between 1.48 and 1.62 meq. g⁻¹. The thermal stability of composite membrane was found to be good enough to use in fuel cell.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• SPEEK
• fuel cell
• composite membrane
• barium strontium titanium oxide

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank DST-FIST (fund for improvement of S&T infrastructure) for the financial assistance at Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, No.SR/FST/CST-266/2015(c). One of the authors (DP) wishes to acknowledge SRM IST for providing financial assistance under SRM selective excellence scheme.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Berlina Maria Mahimai

Berlina Maria Mahimai completed Master Degree in Chemistry from St. Joseph's College, Trichy, Tamilnadu, India. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D programme in the field of polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications

Poonkuzhali Kulasekaran

Poonkuzhali Kulasekaran completed Master Degree in Chemistry from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu, India. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D programme in the field of polymer electrolyte membranes for PEMFC and DMFC applications

Gandhimathi Sivasubramanian

Gandhimathi Sivasubramanian completed her Post Graduate Degree in Physics from Sarah Tucker College, Tirunelveli. She is currently working as Assistant Professor in Department of Physics, SRM Valliammai Engineering College, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India. She is working in the field of electrolyte membranes, fuel cell and laser physics.

Paradesi Deivanayagam

Dr. Paradesi Deivanayagam completed Ph.D in Chemistry from University of Madras, Tamilnadu, India. He is currently working as Assistant Professor in Department of Chemistry, SRM IST, Kattankulathur Campus, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests are polymer, polymer composites, fuel cell and analytical chemistry.