Citation:
International journal of hydrogen energy
ISSN:
0360-3199
DOI:
10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.06.041
Sponsor:
Authors thanks financial support received from the regional government (Comunidad de Madrid through MATERYENER S2009 PPQ-1626), and Spanish Government,MICINN (MAT2010-19837-CO6).
In the present study, sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) composite membranes for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were investigated. Polysulfone (PSU) was sulfonated with trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate in 1,2 dichloIn the present study, sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU)/layered double hydroxide (LDH) composite membranes for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were investigated. Polysulfone (PSU) was sulfonated with trimethylsilyl chlorosulfonate in 1,2 dichloroethane at room temperature. Composite membranes were prepared by blending different amount (0, 1, 2, and 5%) of LDH nanoparticles with SPSU in dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The membranes were prepared by the casting method and the samples obtained were characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy. The thermal behavior for all samples was evaluated by thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA). Finally electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to study the membranes electrical properties. The EIS measurements were carried out with the membranes in contact with HCl solutions at different concentrations (103 ≤ c ≤101). Results show a clear dependence of the membrane electrical resistance with the sulfonation degree and the amount of the LDH added[+][-]