Development of polyoxadiazole nanocomposites for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Dominique Gomes*, Roland Marschall, Suzana P. Nunes, Michael Wark

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Novel nanocomposite membranes were prepared with sulfonated polyoxadiazole and different amounts of sulfonated dense and mesoporous (MCM-41) silica particles. It has been shown that particle size and functionality of sulfonated silica particles play an important role when they are used as fillers for the development of polymer electrolyte nanocomposite membrane for fuel cells. No significant particle agglomerates were observed in all nanocomposite membranes prepared with sulfonated dense silica particles, as analyzed by SEM, AFM, TGA, DMTA and tensile tests. The Tg values of the composite membranes increased with addition of sulfonated silica, indicating an interaction between the sulfonic acid groups of the silica and the polyoxadiazole. Constrained polymer chains in the vicinity of the inorganic particles were confirmed by the reduction of the relative peak height of tan δ. A proton conductivity of 0.034 S cm-1 at 120 °C and 25% RH, which is around two-fold higher than the value of the pristine polymer membrane was obtained.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)406-415
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume322
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fuel cell
  • Nanocomposite
  • PEMFC
  • Proton conductivity
  • Sulfonated silica

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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