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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