Preparation and characterization of an eco-friendly polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) Based in a Blend of Sulphonated Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan Mechanically Stabilised by Nylon 6,6

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Paula Nunes de Oliveira (Author) Other; Adélio Miguel Magalhães Mendes (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Materials Research

Vol. 19 No. 4

Pages: 954-962

ISSN: 1516-1439

Publisher: Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 4 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 10 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

Associated Projects

PTDC/CTM/108454/2008 - Propostas inovadoras à permeabilidade do metanol e actividade do catalisador em células de combustível de electrólito de membrana com alimentação directa de metano

PTDC/EQU-EQU/104217/2008 - Integração de células de combustível de electrólito de membrana polimérica com membranas de paládio de elevada eficiência

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-R6B

DOI: 10.1590/1980-5373-MR-2016-0387

Abstract (EN): Membranes for fuel cell applications were prepared using two polymer blends: poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAL) and chitosan (CS), 80/20 (w/w) and 60/40 (w/w) with and without nylon. Sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) was used both as a crosslinking and a sulfonating agent. An increasing in the SSA content raised ionic exchange capacity and consequently proton conductivity in the membranes. The addition of nylon has improved membrane mechanical properties by decreasing stiffness. Membranes presented good proton conductivity (around 10(-2) S cm(-1)) and lower H-2 and methanol permeability rather than the standard membrane Nafion (R) 115. Membranes which showed to be stable under fuel cell operation were tested using hydrogen and methanol fuels. Membrane PVAL: CS, 80/20 (w/w), containing SSA crosslinker, (PVAL+CS)/SSA, of 4/1 (mol/mol), has shown the best performance under fuel cell environment. However, results have shown that an improvement is required in the adhesion between the membrane and the electrodes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: Journal Citation Reports

No. of pages: 9