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Effect of sulfonated groups on the proton and methanol transport behavior of irradiated PS/PEVA membrane

  • Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Plastics Technology

Abstract

Poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) (PEVA) and polystyrene (PS) were completely miscible for forming a blend polymer using gamma irradiation. After irradiation process the crosslinking takes place even at room temperature in a toluene solvent. As a result of which an insoluble blend polymer PS/PEVA is formed after casting. To produce the polymer blend membrane as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells, the sulfonation of PS/PEVA take place using acetyl sulphate as the sulfonating agent. Sulfonated blend polymer (PS-SO3H/PEVA) makes the production of the membrane exhibited extremely high methanol uptake and methanol permeability. The blend membranes also exhibited superior water uptake capacity and water swellability. Now, a blend polymer (PS-SO3H/PEVA) electrolyte membrane is ready for using as proton electrolyte membranes fuel cells (PEMFCs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). From a conceptual point of view, DMFC and PEMFC systems are very similar, except for being supplied by different fuels such as methanol and hydrogen, respectively. Commonly, PEMFCs are performed at temperature lower than 100 °C and, the ideal working temperature of the PEMFCs should be above 100 °C. TGA confirmed that the irradiated PS/PEVA membrane is stable at a high temperature due to the crosslinked induced by gamma irradiation. Therefore, According to the interesting performances in terms of proton conductivity (3.2 × 103−) Scm−1 at 40 kHz and thermal stability and costs the PS-SO3H/PEVA very suitable for full cell.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanotechnology Lab., Radiation Research of Polymer Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority, P.O. Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Mohamady Ghobashy

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  1. Mohamed Mohamady Ghobashy
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Correspondence to Mohamed Mohamady Ghobashy.

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Ghobashy, M.M. Effect of sulfonated groups on the proton and methanol transport behavior of irradiated PS/PEVA membrane. Int J Plast Technol 21, 130–143 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12588-017-9176-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12588-017-9176-5

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