Design of a stable and methanol resistant membrane with cross-linked multilayered polyelectrolyte complexes for direct methanol fuel cells

Sulfonated poly (arylene ether ketone) bearing carboxyl groups (SPAEK-C) membranes have been prepared as proton exchange membranes for applications in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Multilayered polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) which applied as methanol barrier agents are prepared by alternate deposition of the oppositely charged amino-containing poly (ether ether ketone) (Am-PEEK) and the highly sulfonated SPAEK-C via a layer-by-layer method. The cross-linked PEC (c-PEC) is derived from a simple heat-induced cross-linking reaction between Am-PEEK and SPAEK-C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms that Am-PEEK and SPAEK-C are assembled successfully in the multilayers. The morphology of the membranes is studied by scanning electron microscopy, which shows the presence of the thin layers coated on the SPAEK-C membrane. After PEC and c-PEC modification, the methanol permeability decreases obviously when compared to that of the pristine membrane. Notably, improved proton conductivities are obtained for the PEC modified membranes in comparison with the pristine membrane. Moreover, the selectivity of these modified membranes is one order of magnitude higher than that of Nafion 117. The thermal stability, oxidative stability, water uptake and swelling of PEC and c-PEC modified membranes are also investigated.

Research highlights
► Am-PEEK, as the active polycation was synthesized, and the SPAEK-C was used as the polyanion.
► Lower methanol permeability membranes with higher proton conductivity were obtained via layer-by-layer method.
► The cross-linked network structure greatly improved the oxidative stability as compared to SPAEK-C membrane.