Constructing Proton-conducting Channels within Sulfonated (Poly Arylene Ether Ketone) Using Sulfonated Graphene Oxide: A Nano-Hybrid Membrane for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Hye Ri Jang, Vinothkannan Mohanraj, Ae Rhan Kim, Dong Jin Yoo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nano-hybrid membranes made up using sulfonated (poly-arylene ether ketone) (SPAEK) and sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) with various weight ratio i.e., 0.5, 1 and/or 1.5 wt % were fabricated with a traditional solvent casting approach and their appropriateness for the potential application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was probed. Structural characteristics of membranes were substantiated by 1H NMR, FT-IR, and XRD. The composite membranes revealed the outstanding thermal property with a primary weight drop at temperature of 200 °C, as proved by TGA analysis. TM-AFM images of composite membrane revealed the phase separated morphology of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, which afford the wide pathways for swift and easy conduction of protons. Additionally, integration of SGO dramatically raises the water absorption and consequently proton conductivity, whereas it decreases activation energy needed to transfer the protons via membrane. Proton conductivity value of 124 mS/cm was acquired using 1.5 wt % SGO/SPAEK composite membrane with a higher volume of water absorption i.e., 19%.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)715-721
Number of pages7
JournalBulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
Volume39
Issue number6
Early online date25 Apr 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jun 2018
Externally publishedYes

Funder

The work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20164030201070).The work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and future Planning (No. 2017R1A2B4005230)

Funding

The work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20164030201070).The work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and future Planning (No. 2017R1A2B4005230)

FundersFunder number
Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy20164030201070
National Research Foundation of Korea
Ministry of Science and ICT2017R1A2B4005230

    Keywords

    • SPAEK
    • SGO
    • Nano-hybrid membrane
    • Hydrogen bond
    • Proton conductivity

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