Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design of novel SPEEK-based proton exchange membranes by self-assembly method for fuel cells

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Ionics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fuel cell represents a new energy conversion device, which promises to provide clean source of power. Fuel cell [particularly proton exchange membrane fuel cell and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)] is a promising candidate for transportation and portable power source applications. In DMFC, there is a problem of methanol crossover. In order to reduce such a problem, there has been an intensive research activity in the modification of Nafion. In the present investigation, self-assembled membranes were fabricated with sulfonated polyether ether ketone as the core part of the membrane. Aminated polysulfone and sulfonated polysulfone were used as the layers in order to prevent the crossover of methanol. The assembled membranes were characterized by ion exchange capacity, water and methanol absorption, and durability. The methanol permeability and selectivity ratio proved a strong influence on DMFC application. Scanning electron microscopy proved smooth surface, which established strong cohesive force for the polymer chains. Among the synthesized self-assembled membranes, the membrane with two bilayers was the best in terms of power density in DMFC. The membrane electrode assembly with two bilayers showed higher performance (~61.05 mW/cm2) than sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and Nafion in DMFC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smit EA, Ocampo AL, Espinosa-Medina MA, Sebastian PJ (2003) A modified nafion membrane with in situ polymerized polypyrrole for the direct methanol fuel cell. J Power Sources 124:59–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Woo Y, Oh SY, Kang YS, Jung B (2003) Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated polyimide membranes for direct methanol fuel cell. J Membr Sci 220:31–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dohle H, Jung R, Kimiaie N, Mergel J, Muller M (2003) Interaction between the diffusion layer and the flow field of polymer electrolyte fuel cells—experiments and simulation studies. J Power Sources 124:371–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang J, Tang Y, Song C, Cheng X, Zhang J, Wang H (2003) PEM fuel cells operated at 0 % relative humidity in the temperature range of 23–120 °C. Electrochim Acta 52:5095–01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Costamagna P, Yang C, Bocarsly AB, Srinivasan S (2002) Nafion®115/zirconium phosphate composite membranes for operation of PEMFCs above 100 °C. Electrochim Acta 47:1023–1033

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bae B, Kim D (2003) Sulfonated polystyrene grafted polypropylene composite electrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cells. J Membr Sci 220:75–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gaowen Z, Zhentao Z (2005) Organic/inorganic composite membranes for application in dmfc. J Membr Sci 261:107–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Taft KM, Kurano MR (2003) Composite electrolyte for fuel cells. US patent number 6,630,265

  9. Nunes SP, Ruffmann B, Rikowski E, Vetter S, Richau K (2002) Inorganic modification of proton conductive polymer membranes for direct methanol fuel cells. J Membr Sci 203:215–25, Nunes

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Othman MHD, Ismail AF, Mustafa A (2007) Physico-chemical study of sulfonated poly(Ether ther Ketone) membranes for direct methanol fuel cell application. Malaysian polymer J 2:10–28

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yang T, Zhang SX, Gao Y, Ji FC, Liu TW (2008) Multilayer membranes based on sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) and poly(vinyl alcohol) for direct methanol membrane fuel cells. The Open fuel cells J 1:4–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Junglium OK, Kim DW, Lee C, Choi WC, Cho S, Kang Y (2008) Methanol barriers derived from layer-by-layer assembly of poly(ethersulfone)s for high performance direct methanol fuel cells. Bull Korean chem Soc 29:842–846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Jiang SP, Liu Z, Tian Q (2006) Layer-by-layer self-assembly of composite polyelectrolyte-nafion membranes for direct methanol fuel cells. Adv Mater 18:1068–1072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhao C, Lin H, Cui Z, Li X, Na H, Xing W (2009) Highly conductive, methanol resistant fuel cell membranes fabricated by layer-by-layer self-assembly of inorganic heteropolyacid. J Power sources 194:168–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jiang R, Russell Kunz H, James M (2005) Fenton investigation of membrane property and fuel cell behavior with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) electrolyte: temperature and relative humidity effects. J Power Sources 150:120–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Huang RYM, Pinghai S, Burns CM, Feng X (2001) Sulfonation of poly (ether ether ketone) (peek): kinetic study and characterization. J Applied Polymer Sci 82:2651–2660

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Othman MHD, Ismail AF, Mustafa A (2007) Proton conducting composite membrane from sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) and boron orthophosphate for direct methanol fuel cell application. J Membr Sci 299:156–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Vinodh R, Purushothaman M, Sangeetha D (2011) Novel quaternized polysulfone/ZrO2 composite membranes for solid alkaline fuel cell applications. Int J Hydrogen Energy 36:7291–02

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Padmavathi R, Karthikumar R, Sangeetha D (2012) Multilayered sulphonated polysulfone/silica composite membranes for fuel cell applications. Electrochim Acta 71:283–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Zaidi SMJ, Mikhailenko SD, Robertson GP, Guiver MD, Kaliaguine S (2000) Proton conducting composite membranes from polyether ether ketone and heteropolyacids for fuel cell applications. J Membr Sci 173:17–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ding FC, Wang SJ, Xiao M, Meng YZ (2007) Cross-linked sulfonated poly(phathalazinone ether ketone)s for PEM fuel cell application as proton-exchange membrane. J Power Sources 164:488–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Amirinejad M, Madaeni SS, Rafiee E, Amirinejad S (2011) Cesium hydrogen salt of heteropolyacids/Nafion nanocomposite membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. J Membr Sci 377:89–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lin H, Zhao C, Ma W, Li H, Na H (2009) Layer by layer self assembly in situ polymerized polypyrrole on sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) membrane with extremely low methanol crossover. Int J Hydrogen Energy 34:9795–9801

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhao C, Lin H, Zhang Q, Na H (2010) Layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyaniline on sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) membrane with high proton conductivity and low methanol crossover. Int J Hydrogen Energy 35:10482–10488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Weilin X, Liu C, Xue X, Yi S, Lv Y, Xing W, Tianhong L (2004) New proton exchange membranes based on poly (vinyl alcohol) for DMFCs. Solid State Ionics 171:121–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. van Krevelen DW (1975) Some basic aspects of flame resistance of polymeric materials. Polymer 16:615–620

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jaworska M, Stasicka Z (2005) Structure and UV–vis spectroscopy of the iron-sulfur dinuclear nitrosyl complexes [Fe2S2(NO)4]2− and [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4]. New J Chem 29:604–612

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank National Renewable Energy Fellowship (NREF), India (vide letter number NREF/TU/2011/11, dated April 4, 2011), and DST (AFT) vide letter number DST/TSG/AF/2010/09 dated January 10, 2010 for their financial assistance to carry out the research work. The authors gratefully acknowledge DST-FIST and UGC-DRS for the instrumentation facilities in their department.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Chennai, 600025, Tamil Nadu, India

    Rajangam Padmavathi & Dharmalingam Sangeetha

Authors
  1. Rajangam Padmavathi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dharmalingam Sangeetha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dharmalingam Sangeetha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Padmavathi, R., Sangeetha, D. Design of novel SPEEK-based proton exchange membranes by self-assembly method for fuel cells. Ionics 19, 1423–1436 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-013-0867-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-013-0867-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation