New Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) Based on the Modification of Sulfonated Polystyrene with MIL-۵۳(Al)-NH۲ for Direct-Methanol Fuel Cell

In this study, modified sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) was used as a base for membrane fabrication in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs). The sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) was prepared using ethylsulfate and polystyrene with sulfate attached to the para-position of some phenyl groups in polystyrene backbone and conducted by polyethylene (PE) and different amounts of MIL-۵۳(Al)-NH۲ as metal-organic material, to obtain SPS-PE-MIL-۵۳ as a novel proton-exchange membrane. The membranes were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, and TGA analysis. The proton conductivity, water uptake, oxidative resistance, ionic conductivity, and methanol permeability of the membranes were examined to assess their performance in a direct methanol fuel cell. The modified membrane containing ۱% wt SPS, ۱% wt PE, and ۰.۲۵% wt MIL-۵۳ showed relatively better performance than the other prepared membranes with the selectivity factor of ۷.۱۷ × ۱۰۴ S.s/cm۳ and a maximum peak power density of ۱۷.۰۴ mW/cm۲ with a maximum current density of ۱۱۵.۳۸ mA/cm۲.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sulfonated polystyrene ، MIL-۵۳(Al)-NH۲ ، Proton-exchange membrane ، Metal-organic material ، Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC)