Sains Malaysiana 42(11)(2013): 1671–1677

 

Stability of SPEEK-Triaminopyrimide Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Application

(Kestabilan Polimer Membran Elektrolit SPEEK-Triminopyrimidine untuk Aplikasi Sel Bahan

Api Metanol Terus)

 

 

JUHANA JAAFAR1*, A.F. ISMAIL1, T. MATSUURA2& M.N.A. MOHD NORDDIN1

 

1Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

 

2Industrial Membrane Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Ottawa, 161 Louis Pasteur St. Ottawa ON, KIN 6N5, Canada

 

Received: 29 August 2012/Accepted: 13 June 2013

 

ABSTRACT

Modification of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane was conducted by incorporating Cloisite 15A® clay and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (TAP) via solution intercalation method. The effect of the Closite and TAP introduction was evaluated in terms of the membrane’s physicochemical and hydration properties. The membrane’s properties were compared among the SPEEK based membranes, including parent SPEEK, SPEEK/Cloisite and SPEEK/Cloisite 15A®/TAP. The uniform dispersion of Cloisite 15A® particles in SPEEK polymer matrices was confirmed by SEM analysis. The stability in water; in terms of dimensional change and dissolution, of the modified membrane was investigated and compared to the parent SPEEK membrane. SPEEK/Cloisite 15A®/TAP nanocomposite membrane exhibited the highest selectivity by means of the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability. Owing to its higher proton conductivity and significantly lower methanol permeabilities and high stability in water environment, SPEEK/Cloisite 15A®/TAP nanocomposite membrane was found to be a potential alternative polymer electrolyte membrane for DMFC applications.

 

Keywords: Cloisite; direct methanol fuel cell; nanocomposite membranes; sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone); triaminopyrimidine

 

ABSTRAK

Pengubahsuaian terhadap membran sulfona poli (eter eter kiton) (SPEEK) telah dilakukan dengan memasukkan tanah liat Cloisite 15A® dan 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (TAP) melalui kaedah penyisipan larutan. Kesan pengenalan Cloisite 15A® dan TAP dinilai berdasarkan sifat fizik-kimia dan penghidratan membran. Hasil keputusan sifat membran dibandingkan antara membran-membran berasaskan SPEEK, termasuklah SPEEK induk, SPEEK/Cloisite dan SPEEK/Cloisite 15A®/TAP. Penyebaran sekata partikel-partikel Cloisite 15A® di dalam matriks polimer SPEEK telah dikenal pasti melalui analisis SEM. Kestabilan dalam air daripada segi perubahan bentuk dan keterlarutan, bagi membran yang diubah suai dikaji dan dibandingkan dengan membran SPEEK induk. Membran komposit nano SPEEK/Cloisite 15A®/TAP mempamerkan kememilihan yang paling tinggi dalam erti kata nisbah kekonduksian proton terhadap kebolehtelapan metanol. Dengan kelebihan kekonduksian proton dan kadar kebolehtelapan metanol yang lebih rendah serta kestabilan yang tinggi dalam persekitaran air, maka membran komposit nano telah dikenal pasti boleh menjadi membran polimer elektrolit alternatif untuk aplikasi-aplikasi DMFC.

 

Kata kunci: Cloisite; membran komposit nano; sel bahan api metanol terus; sulfona poli (eter eter kiton); triaminopyrimidine

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*Corresponding author; email address: juhana@petroleum.utm. my