The influence of ionic liquids cation on the properties of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone)/polybenzimidazole blends applied in PEMFC

Author(s)

da Trindade, Leticia G. ^{[1, 2]} ; Zanchet, Leticia ^[1] ; Martins, Pedro C. ^[1] ; Borba, Katiuscia M. N. ^[1] ; Santos, Rapher D. M. ^[3] ; Paiva, Robert da S. ^[4] ; Vermeersch, Lilian A. F. ^[4] ; Ticianelli, Edson A. ^[3] ; de Souza, Michele O. ^[1] ; Martini, Emilse M. A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, LRC Inst Chem, POB 15003, BR-91501970 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Chem, UNESP, POB 473, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Inst Chem, POB 780, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Chem, POB 676, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Polymer; v. 179, SEP 28 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Blends modified with ionic liquid (IL) can have their conductivity improved at elevated temperatures and low relative humidity (RH) making them suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) applications. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone)/polybenzimidazole/3-triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TEA-PS.HSO4) or 1-butylimidazole hydrogen sulfate (BImH.HSO4) ionic liquids blends to be applied as a novel proton exchange membranes (PEM). The oxidative stability augments with the increase of PBI content, and the membrane conductivity enhances with the increase of the IL content. Additionally, the H bond formed between the acid proton of the IL cation and the amine group of PBI avoids the IL leaching. In the PEMFC applications, the best results were obtained using the SP10/TEA5 membrane (10 and 5 wt% of PBI and TEA-PS.HSO4 respectively) at 100 degrees C. A high Open Circuit Potential (OCP) value was achieved (0.97 V) and an increase of 126% of the density current (1.83 A cm(-2)) when compared with a pure SPEEK membrane (0.81 A cm(-2)). These results indicate that these composite membranes have a high potential for PEMFC applications. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/16930-7 - Electrocatalysis V: electrocatalytic processes of chemical and electrical energy interconversion
• Grantee: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials
• Grantee: Elson Longo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC