2006 AIChE Annual Meeting
(277b) Composite Polybenzimidazole/Polyimide-Clay-H3po4 Membranes for Use in Fuel Cell Applications
Authors
Sutrisno, J. - Presenter, University of Nevada, Reno
Fuchs, A., University of Nevada, Reno
Liu, Y., University of Nevada, Reno
Kavlicoglu, B., University of Nevada, Reno
Evrensel, C., University of Nevada, Reno
Gordaninejad, F., University of Nevada, Reno
Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) have been prepared using an inorganic/polymer composite membrane. These membranes were formed from polybenzimidazole (PBI) / phosphotungstic acid and commercial polyimide (kapton) / clay-H3PO4. Proton conductivity was measured using AC impedance spectroscopy. A Nyquist plot is generated which shows both real and imaginary resistances. The conductivity is determined from the real resistance. The membrane with 20% wt phosphotungstic acid in PBI was characterized and the proton conductivity was 1.7 x 10-6 S.cm-1 at room temperature and 100% relative humidity. The membrane with 20% wt clay-H3PO4 in commercial polyimide (kapton) has been characterized and it gave proton conductivity of 1.8 x 10-3 S.cm-1 at room temperature and 90% relative humidity. Current synthesis involves the use of supramolecular chemistry for enhanced proton conductivity through the formation of pores and channels in the membrane.