SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SILICA DOPED/SULFONATED POLY (PHENYLENE OXIDE) MEMBRANES

D. Ebrasu*, I. Petreanu, M. Varlam, I. Stefanescu

National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies -

ICIT Rm. Valcea, 4 Uzinei St., PO Box 7 Raureni, 240050, Romania

ABSTRACT

Silica doped/sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (Si-SPPO) membranes were studied for operation in hydrogen/oxygen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells from Room Temperature (RT) up to 120°C. The Si-SPPO membranes were prepared though sol–gel reaction with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) followed by heat treatment from 60 and 120°C. The presence of silicon oxide in the composite membranes was put in evidence by FTIR spectroscopy and thermal properties were studied by TG-DSC measurements. Ionic exchange capacity, water uptake and proton conductivity characterizations were carried out. The addition of silica nanoparticles improve the thermal stability and proton conductivity of the composite membranes. Therefore, the silica doped membranes are suitable for potential application in high temperature fuel cells.

KEYWORDS: Silica, Composite, Membrane, Fuel Cell, Proton.