Fabrication and Characterization of a Conductive Proton Exchange Membrane Based on Sulfonated Polystyrenedivinylbenzene Resin-Polyethylene (SPSDR-PE): Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Abstract

<em>A novel proton exchange membrane has been prepared using</em><em> sulfonated poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) resin(SPSDR)–polyethylene(PE)</em><em>. The membrane is characterized by FT-IR, SEM and TGA/DSC. Water uptake, oxidative resistance, ionic conductivity and methanol permeability are measured to evaluate its performance in a direct methanol fuel cell. </em><em>The on-set degradation temperature of the SPSDR is above 120°C. The membranes were confirmed to retain 1–5% water vapor at 80–140 °C in the air due to the hydrophily of highly sulfonated polystyrene. </em>The ionic conductivity and permeability of the membrane to methanol was found to increase with temperature without<em> extra humidity supply.</em><em>A direct methanol fuel cell was designed and assembled with </em><em>the suggested SPSDR-PE membrane. The effect of some experimental factors such as temperature, methanol concentration, and flow rate as well as NaOH concentration on the electrical performances of fuel cells was studied and optimized.</em>