Fabrication and Characterization of Sulfonated Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene glycol) Electrolyte Membranes

• Author(s): Horng-Jer Tai ; Sheng Hsiung Zhang
• Paper ID: 1703647
• Page: 307-312
• Published Date: 15-07-2022
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 6 Issue 1 July-2022

Abstract

In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene glycol) was sulfonated and cross-linked with different amounts of sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) to prepare the polymer electrolyte membrane for direct methanol fuel cell. In addition, phosphoric acid was added to the sulfonated membranes to further promote the proton conductivity. The synthesized membranes were characterized by measuring their gel content, water uptake, ion exchange capacity and methanol permeability to determine how these properties varied with composition. The results showed that the gel content first increased with the amount of SSA, and then decreased after reaching a maximum value. The addition of phosphoric acid only slightly increases the gel content. The properties such as water uptake, ion exchange capacity and methanol permeability are closely related to the gel content. Finally, in the single cell test, the membrane electrode assembly fabricated with phosphoric acid-doped sulfonated membrane has a better performance over that with the undoped sulfonated membrane.

Keywords

poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene glycol), proton exchange membrane, membrane electrode assembly, direct methanol fuel cell

Citations

IRE Journals:
Horng-Jer Tai , Sheng Hsiung Zhang "Fabrication and Characterization of Sulfonated Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene glycol) Electrolyte Membranes" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 6 Issue 1 2022 Page 307-312

IEEE:
Horng-Jer Tai , Sheng Hsiung Zhang "Fabrication and Characterization of Sulfonated Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene glycol) Electrolyte Membranes" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 6(1)