Preparation and properties of high performance nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for fuel cell

Various spatially enlarged organoclays were prepared by using poly(oxyproplene)-backboned quaternary ammonium salts of various molecular weights Mw 230, 400 and 2000 as the intercalating agents for Na+-montmorillonite. The modified MMT was utilized to improve the compatibility with Nafion®. Sufficient interaction of the modified MMT with Nafion® was studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The performance of the Nafion®/m-MMT composite membranes for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFCs) was evaluated in terms of water uptake, ion exchange capacity (IEC), methanol permeability, proton conductivity, and cell performance. The methanol permeability of the composite membrane decreased with the increasing of m-MMT content. The proton conductivity of the membrane was lowered slightly from that of pristine Nafion® membrane. These results led to an essential improvement in the single-cell performance of DMFCs.