Sulfonated polysulfone/TiO2 nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell application

Published Date

June 2011, Volume 15, Issue 1, pp 1-20

First online: 03 November 2011

Title 

Sulfonated polysulfone/TiO2nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell application

• Author 

• Lakshmi Unnikrishnan
• , Smita Mohanty
• , Sanjay K. Nayak 
• , Nijith P. Jayan

Abstract

In the present study, sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposite membranes for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were synthesised and its utility as proton exchange membrane has been investigated. Polysulfone (PSU) was sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid in 1,2 dichloroethane at ambient temperatures. The degree of sulfonation was determined by titration and 1H NMR was performed to verify the sulfonation reaction. FTIR spectra also showed the evidence of –SO3H absorption peak at ~1,027 cm−1. Sulfonation levels from 25 to 70% were easily achieved by varying reaction time. Nanocomposite membranes were prepared by blending TiO2 with SPSU solution in NMP employing solution casting technique. The membranes were characterized for thermal stability, water uptake, and proton conductivity measurements. The morphological characterisation of the membranes were carried out using SEM. X-ray diffraction measurements were also carried out to evaluate the interaction of TiO2 with SPSU. Conductivity values in the range of 10−4 S/cm were obtained for nanocomposite membranes.

Keywords

Membranes Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) FTIR Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) Nanocomposites WAXS

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http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12588-011-9015-z