Preparation and Behavior of Sulfonated Poly( arylene ether ketone sulfone ) s/ZrO2 Composite Proton Exchange Membranes

Sulfonated poly( aryle ether ketone sulfone ) ( SPAEKS )/ZrO2 composite membranes with different contents of ZrO2 were prepared by sol-blend mixed method. Infrared spectra show that the Zr-O-Zr absorption peaks exist in composite membrane. SEM images show ZrO2 nano-inorganic particles uniformly dispersed in SPAEKS polymer matrix. It was found that the introduction of nano-particles ZrO2 improved the thermal stability, water uptake and proton conductivity. The methanol permeability coefficient ( 5. 6 x 10 (-7) cm(2)/s ) of SPAEKS/ZrO2-10% composite membrane was lower than that of SPAEKS film( 6. 7 x 10 (-7) cm(2)/s ) at 80 degrees C. The proton conductivities of all composite membrane exceeded 0. 08 S/cm at 80 degrees C, which meet with the requirement of proton exchange membrane fuel cell( PEMFC ) at elevated temperature operation. The SPAEKS/ZrO2 composite membranes show good potential for the usage in high temperature PEMFC.