• Korean Membrane Journal
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 2009

The sulfonated poly(styrene-divinylbenzene-acrylonitrile) (ST-DVB-AN) composite polymer electrolyte membrane based on the original PVC film was successfully synthesized to improve oxidative stability using semi-interpenetrated polymer network (semi-IPN). Weight gain ratio after copolymerization was enhanced by the DVB and AN contents, and the sulfonated membranes were characterized in terms of proton conductivity (k), ion exchange capacity (IEC), and water uptake ($W_U$). The effect of DVB content and AN addition were thoroughly investigated by comparing the resulted properties including oxidative stability. The obtained ST-DVB-AN composited semi-IPN membranes showed relatively high proton conductivity and IEC compared with Nafion117, and greatly improved oxidative stability of the synthesized membrane was obtained. This study demonstrated that a semi-interpenetrated sulfonated ST-DVB-AN composited membrane reinforced by PVC polymer network is a promising candidate as an inexpensive polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell applications.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.246-251
• /
• 2017

To fabricate a hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte composite membrane incorporated with Pt nanoparticle, the polymer electrolyte membrane made of a sulfonated-fluorinated hydrophilic-hydrophobic block copolymer (SFBC) and sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) blend in the wight ratio of 1 : 1 was synthesized, and a simple drying process was used in order to incorporate Pt nanoparticle into the SFBC/SPEEK film by reducing platinum (II) bis (acetylacetonate), Pt $(acac)_2$. The distribution of the Pt nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and mechanical and thermal properties were tested by universal testing machine (UTM) and thermogravimetry analyzer (TGA). Cation conductivity, ion exchange capacity (IEC) and I-V characteristics were estimated.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.205-208
• /
• 2008

Sulfonated polySEBS and sulfonated PS were synthesized by sulfonation at the aromatic group of polySEBS and PS. Novel sulfonated polySEBS/sulfonated PS blending films for the ion exchange membrane of polymer electrolyte fuel cell were prepared from these sulfonated polymers. The proton conductivities of these blending films were varied in $10^{-2}{\sim}10^{-3}S/cm$ with the blending ratio of sulfonated polySEBS/sulfonated PS. Especially, the film prepared from the addition of the sulfonated PS (0.5 g) in the sulfonated polySEBS (10.0 g) has the best proton conductivity (0.07 S/cm) with ion exchange capacity (0.75 meq/g) and water uptake (25%).

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.127-131
• /
• 2016

Polymer electrolyte membrane for unitized regenerative fuel cells requires high proton conductivity, high dimensional stability, low permeability, and low cost. However, DuPont's Nafion which is a commercial polymer electrolyte membrane has high permeability, high cost, and decreasing proton conductivity and dimensional stability over $80^{\circ}C$. To address these problems, sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (sPEEK) which is a low cost hydrocarbon polymer is selected as matrix polymer for the preparation of polymer electrolyte membrane. In addition, composite membrane with improved proton conductivity and dimensional stability is prepared by introducing sulfonated graphene oxide (sGO). The fundamental properties of polymer electrolyte membranes are analyzed by investigating membrane's water content, dimensional stability, proton conductivity, and morphology. The cell test is conducted to consider the possibility of application of sPEEK/sGO composite membrane for an unitized regenerative fuel cell.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2008.05a
• /
• pp.162-162
• /
• 2008

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.2141-2142
• /
• 2010

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.295-300
• /
• 2007

A new characterization method using a porous plug model was proposed to determine the degree of sulfonation (DS) of ionomer binder with respect to the membrane used in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) and to analyze the fraction of proton pathways through ionomer-catalyst combined electrodes in MEAs for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) was prepared to use a polymeric electrolyte and laboratory-made SPEEK solution (5wt.%, DMAc based) was added to catalyst slurry to form catalyst layers. In case of the SPEEK-based MEAs in this study, DS of ionomer binder for catalyst layers should be the same or higher than that of the SPEEK membrane used in the MEAs. The porous plug model suggested that most of protons were via the ionomer binder (${\sim}92.5%$) bridging the catalyst surface to the polymeric electrolyte, compared with the pathways through the alternative between the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer binder or catalyst and the ionomer binder (${\sim}7.3%$) and through only the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer or catalyst (${\sim}0.2%$) in the electrode of the MEA comprising of the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane and the 5wt.% SPEEK ionomer binder. As a result, it was believed that the majority of proton at both electrodeds moves through ionomer binder until reaching to electrolyte membrane. The porous plug model of the electrodes of MEAs reemphasized the importance of well-optimized structure of ionomer binder and catalyst for fuel cells.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.185-185
• /
• 2006

The performances of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane are reported. Pt/C was coated on the membrane directly to fabricate a MEA for PEMFC operation. A single cell test was carried out using $H_2/air$ gases as fuel and oxidant. A current density of $730\;mA/cm^2$ at 0.60 V was obtained at $70^{\circ}C$. Pt-Ru (anode) and Pt (cathode) were coated on the membrane for DMFC operations. It produced $83\;mW/cm^2$ of maximum power density. The sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membrane was also used for DFAFC operation under several different conditions. It showed good cell performances for several different kinds of polymer electrolyte fuel cell applications.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.10
• /
• pp.729-733
• /
• 2009

Solution casting films of sulfonated poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-r-butylene)-b-styrene] copolymer (sSEBS)-based composite membranes that contained different amounts of organic, nanorod-shaped polyrotaxane were annealed at various temperatures for 1 h. The films' properties were characterized with respect to their use as polymer electrolyte membranes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Different aspect ratios of polyrotaxane were prepared using the inclusion-complex reaction between $\alpha$-cyclodextrin and poly(ethylene glycol). The presence of the organic polyrotaxane inside the membrane changed the morphology during the membrane preparation and reduced the transport of methanol. The conductivity and methanol permeability of the composite membranes decreased with increasing polyrotaxane content, while the annealing temperature increased. All of the sSEBS-based, polyrotaxane composite membranes annealed at $140^{\circ}C$ showed a higher selectivity parameter, suggesting their potential usage for DMFCs.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.427-441
• /
• 2022

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) serving as a separator that can prevent the permeation of unreacted fuels as well as an electrolyte that selectively transports protons from the anode to the cathode has been considered a key component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs, represented by Nafion®, have been commercialized in PEMFC systems due to their high proton conductivity and chemical stability. Nevertheless, these PEMs have several inherent drawbacks including high manufacturing costs by the complex synthetic processes and environmental problems caused by producing the toxic gases. Although numerous studies are underway to address these drawbacks including the development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymer-based PEMs (SHP-PEMs), which can easily control the polymer structures, further improvement of PEM performances and durability is necessary for practical PEMFC applications. Therefore, this study focused on the various strategies for the development of SHP-PEMs with outstanding performance and durability by 1) introducing cross-linked structures, 2) incorporating organic/inorganic composites, and 3) fabricating reinforced-composite membranes using porous substrates.