SIPN Systems Used as Membranes for Fuel Cell

Abstract

Membranes must show chemical, electrochemical and dimensional stability and proton conductivity for application as a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane in Fuel Cells. The Semi-interpenetrating polymer network membranes (SIPN) obtained in this work were synthesized from polyethyleneimine and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A with curing agent 4,4' diaminodiphenyl-sulphone. The membranes were studied while immersed in H3PO4 and after sulfonation. The samples were characterized by FTIR, TGA, DSC and electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The SIPN membranes show high thermal stability above 270oC, which is sufficient for their application in PEMFC for intermediate temperature operation. The membrane doped with 20% H3PO4 shows higher conductivity value, 0,08 S.cm-1, than the sulfonated samples,10-2 Scm-1.