Fabrication and Characterization of Proton Conductive Membranes Based on Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-maleic anhydride)

In this study, proton conductive composite membranes were produced by using a poly(methylmethacrylate-co-maleic anhydride) (P(MMA-co-MAH)) copolymer and phosphotungstic Acid (PWA) as an additive of the proton conductive agent. P(MMA/MAH) ۷۰/۳۰, ۵۰/۵۰, and ۳۰/۷۰ were synthesized using a free radical polymerization reaction. PWA with a concentration of ۲% was added to improve the performance of proton exchange membranes. Composite membranes of P(MMA۳۰-co-MAH۷۰)/PWA had the highest performance, and this improvement was attributed to the presence of MAH and PWA. By increasing the ratio of MMA:MAH from ۳۰/۷۰ to ۷۰/۳۰, thermal stability, ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity of membranes enhanced up to ۳۱۰°C, ۰.۸۵ meq/g, and ۵.۷۷ mS/cm, respectively. Moreover, the addition of PWA into the membrane matrix improved the membrane characteristics so that thermal stability, ion exchange capacity, and proton conductivity increased to ۳۱۷°C, ۰.۹۸ meq/g, and ۱۴.۴۲ mS/cm. The synthesized copolymer offered the required properties to be used for the fabrication of a proton conductive membrane.

کلیدواژه ها:

Proton conductive membranes ، Copolymers ، Fuel cells ، composites ، Phosphotungstic acid