Anhydrous proton conducting poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/ poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS)/1,2,4-triazole composite membrane

Abstract

The design and fabrication of anhydrous proton exchange membranes are critically important for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) operating between 100 and 200 °C. Herein, we demonstrate a novel proton conducting membrane consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) and 1,2,4-Triazole, which was fabricated by physical blending, casting and solvent evaporation techniques. The in-situ chemical cross-linking was performed by glutaraldehyde (GA) to improve the water management of the membranes. The molecular structure of the membranes and intermolecular interactions between the constituents were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The surface and cross-section morphologies of the membranes were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal stability performance of the membranes was studied with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In order to determine the physico-chemical properties of the membranes, water uptake (WU), dimensional change and ion exchange capacity (IEC) tests were carried out. The proton conductivities of composite membranes increase with the temperature and the temperature dependencies exhibit an

Preparation and Characterizations of Iron Oxide Nano Particles Reinforced Polymeric Thin Films

“…1556 and 1650 cm-1 were showed the vibrational mode of amide groups, the two sharp peaks at 1039 and 1221 cm-1 were observed for the S-O stretching of sulfonate groups, and the band around 3400 -3000 cm-1owing to the O-H stretching vibration [12,13]. In the IONPs spectrum, the broad band at 3700-3000 cm−1 indicated the stretching vibration mode of surface hydroxyl groups of the pristine IONPs [20].…”

“…The FT-IR spectra of PVA, PAMPS, IONPs and PVA/PAMPS/IONP composite are shown in the figure 3. In the PVA spectrum, large bands between 3350 -3000 cm-1 are linked to the stretching O-H vibration of intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and the band in the region of 2980 -2710 cm-1 refers to the stretching C-H of alkyl groups [12]. In the PAMPS spectrum, the characteristics bands around For convenience, PVA/PAMPS/IONP-1 (0.5 wt%), PVA/PAMPS/IONP -2 (1.0 wt%), PVA/PAMPS/IONP -3 (1.5 wt%) and PVA/PAMPS/IONP -4 (2.0 wt%) is denoted as PVA/PAMPS/ IONP 1-4 films.…”

“…Recently, chemically cross-linked poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PVA-PAMPS) films are effectively used in the mechanical devices, attributable to their biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness [12,13]. Notably, the PVA has been widely utilized in the fabrication of tablet coating, artificial tears, drug delivery and tissue replacement, owing to their specific characteristics of toxicologically safe, high oxygen permeability and biodegradability [14], conversely they possess very less mechanical stability.…”

“…Specifically, the PAMPS, a sulfonic acid acrylic monomer has high proton conductivity and well hydrated due to presence of sulfonic acid groups in its backbone, and they are effectively applied infuel cells, medical devices and actuators [7,15]. In order to improve their mechanical and thermal stabilities of these PVA and PAMPS polymers, they could be blended / chemically crosslinked for obtaining flexible, mechanically and thermally stable material [12,13]. Generally, the reinforcement of nano-particles into the polymer matrix enhances the mechanical, dimensional and thermal stabilities of the host polymer matrix.…”

“…The PVA/PAMPS/IONP nano-composite films were prepared by Thermally Induced Phase Separation technique [12]. Figure 2 shows the schematic representation of the fabrication of PVA/PAMPS/IONP films.…”