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Development and Characterization of Functionalized Titanium Dioxide-Reinforced Sulfonated Copolyimide (SPI/TiO2) Nanocomposite Membranes with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrochemical Properties

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Abstract

Sulfonated polyimide (SPI) membranes are regarded as the potential alternative to Nafion as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for fuel cells. Herein, sulfonated copolyimide is synthesized through a direct polymerization method using 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetra carboxylic dianhydride (NDTA), and sulfonated diamine 4,4′-diamino diphenyl-2,2′-disulfonic acid (BDSA). Sulfonated copolyimide is re-dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide for the fabrication of thin films. The nanocomposites of both 1.0 and 2.0% of the functionalized TiO2-reinforced (SPI/TiO2) are fabricated by blending and casting method. TiO2 nanoparticles are surface-functionalized using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared FTIR), and Brunauer-Emmitt-Teller (BET) techniques are used to reveal the distinctive characteristics of the newly synthesized SPI/TiO2 nanocomposite membranes. The as-synthesized SPI/TiO2 membranes are used to investigate their physicochemical and electrochemical parameters, including water uptake, ion exchange capacity (IEC), swelling property, oxidation stability, and dimensional change stability. The SPI and SPI/TiO2 composite membranes exhibit an ion-exchange value of 1.412 to 1.286 mmol/g. The SPI/TiO2 composite membranes show excellent H2O stability at room temperature. Overall, the results indicate that the SPI/TiO2 membranes exhibit the potential as PEM for direct methanol fuel cell applications. These nanocomposite membranes are also applicable in clean energy production from environment-friendly sources.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Farman Ali is highly grateful to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for supporting this work through the NRPU project (Number No: 5723/KPK/NRPU/R&D/HEC/2016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Nisar Ali

  2. Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Nisar Ali

  3. Department of Chemistry, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, KPK, Pakistan

    Amir Said, Farman Ali, Muzafar Khan & Zeshan Ali Sheikh

  4. School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, 223003, China

    Muhammad Bilal

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Ali, N., Said, A., Ali, F. et al. Development and Characterization of Functionalized Titanium Dioxide-Reinforced Sulfonated Copolyimide (SPI/TiO2) Nanocomposite Membranes with Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrochemical Properties. J Inorg Organomet Polym 30, 4585–4596 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-020-01636-0

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