12HPW/meso-SiO2 nanocomposite CSPEEK membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

• The crosslinked sulfonated PEEK membranes with HPW/meso-SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by EB-irradiation method.
• The crosslinking structure of the membranes was confirmed using TEM and SAXS.
• The IEC and proton conductivity values were decreased with an increase in the nanoparticle content.
• The water uptake of the prepared membrane at high temperature was reduced with an increased in the nanoparticle content.

In this study, cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (CSPEEK) membranes with 10 wt% HPW/meso-SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared using an electron beam irradiation method at a dose of 300 kGy. The prepared membranes were characterized using the gel fraction, TGA, and SAXS, water uptake, ion exchagne capacity, and proton conductivity. The proton conductivity of a nanocomposite SPEEK membrane with 20 wt% HPW/meso-SiO2 nanoparticle was 1.9 × 10−3 S/cm at 120 °C under 30% RH, and which is 10 times higher than the CSPEEK membrane without the nanoparticles.

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