<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Proton exchange membranes have been synthesized from polyimide (PI) doped with different contents of montmorillonite (MMT) which was obtained by solution casting technique. The enhancement of conductivity was achieved through modification with the MMT. Prepared membranes were systematically characterized in terms of ion exchange capacity, water uptake, methanol uptake, swelling behavior and proton conductivity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements were used to confirm the structures of the PI/MMT composite electrolyte membranes. SEM surface morphological images of the composite membranes showed that the MMT nanoclay particles were dispersed uniformly within the membrane what was also reflected in XRD results which indicated a good compatibility of MMT particles with the polymer complex. The TGA spectra showed that the thermal stability of the membrane was reduced by adding MMT into the polymer network. The prepared membrane with 10 wt.% of modified MMT exhibited the highest proton conductivity value of 7.06 × 10-2 S·cm-1 at 70 °C. These results imply the potential application of the PI/MMT composite membranes as improved PEMs for DMFC applications. </abstract>

Proton exchange membranes have been synthesized from polyimide (PI) doped with different contents of montmorillonite (MMT) which was obtained by solution casting technique. The enhancement of conductivity was achieved through modification with the MMT. Prepared membranes were systematically characterized in terms of ion exchange capacity, water uptake, methanol uptake, swelling behavior and proton conductivity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements were used to confirm the structures of the PI/MMT composite electrolyte membranes. SEM surface morphological images of the composite membranes showed that the MMT nanoclay particles were dispersed uniformly within the membrane what was also reflected in XRD results which indicated a good compatibility of MMT particles with the polymer complex. The TGA spectra showed that the thermal stability of the membrane was reduced by adding MMT into the polymer network. The prepared membrane with 10 wt.% of modified MMT exhibited the highest proton conductivity value of 7.06 × 10-2 S·cm-1 at 70 °C. These results imply the potential application of the PI/MMT composite membranes as improved PEMs for DMFC applications.

Role of structural modifications of montmorillonite, electrical properties effect, physical behavior of nanocomposite proton conducting membranes for direct methanol fuel cell applications

Materials Science-Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Proton exchange membranes have been synthesized from polyimide (PI) doped with different contents of montmorillonite (MMT) which was obtained by solution...

Role of structural modifications of montmorillonite, electrical properties effect, physical behavior of nanocomposite proton conducting membranes for direct methanol fuel cell applications

Published Online: Mar 20, 2018

Page range: 707 - 716

Received: Sep 26, 2016

Accepted: Dec 15, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/msp-2017-0112

Keywords
proton exchange membrane, polyimide, proton conductivity, montmorillonite, direct methanol fuel cell

© 2018

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Role of structural modifications of montmorillonite, electrical properties effect, physical behavior of nanocomposite proton conducting membranes for direct methanol fuel cell applications

Published Online: Mar 20, 2018

Page range: 707 - 716

Received: Sep 26, 2016

Accepted: Dec 15, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/msp-2017-0112

Keywordsproton exchange membrane, polyimide, proton conductivity, montmorillonite, direct methanol fuel cell

© 2018

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
proton exchange membrane, polyimide, proton conductivity, montmorillonite, direct methanol fuel cell