Preparation and characterization of crosslinked PVAL membranes loaded with boehmite nanoparticles for fuel cell applications

Abstract

Composite proton conducting membranes were prepared by doping the membrane, prepared by crosslinking poly(vinylalcohol) with sulfosuccinic acid (SSA), with boehmite [aluminum oxyhydroxide or c-AlO(OH)]. The effect of the SSA and boehmitecontent on the membrane performance was studied and the results showed that the values for the ion exchange capacity (IEC) of themembranes were in the range of 0.45-4.80 mmol g21, the water content and the Young's modulus were dependent on the amount ofSSA and nanoparticles. The proton conductivity was in the range of 1024 to 1022 S cm21 at 25C and was directly related to thequantity of sulfonate groups present in the membrane, while the hydrogen permeability at 30C was in the range of 10213 to 10212mol cm s21 cm22 bar. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell tests indicated that the composite membranes have good proton conductivity and very low hydrogen permeability.