Fabrication of highly selective PVA-g-GO/SPVA membranes via cross-linking method for direct methanol fuel cells

Organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared using sulfonated poly(vinyl alcohol) (SPVA), mixed and cross-linked with different amounts of poly(vinyl alcohol)-grafted graphene oxide (PVA-g-GO). The introduction of PVA-g-GO to the membranes not only reduced the methanol permeability but also positively affected the mechanical properties: Increasing the PVA-g-GO content increased the blocking effect of GO. The PVA-g-GO/SPVA membranes were cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, resulting in the formation of cross-linking chains within the matrix, as well as between the matrix and the filler. Therefore, the microstructure of the PVA-g-GO/SPVA cross-linking membrane was different from that of the existing membranes. This structure also reduced the methanol permeability. The composite membranes exhibited proton conductivities ranging from 0.0141 to 0.0319 S/cm at 60 °C, and low methanol permeability ranging from 3.13 × 10−7 to 1.53 × 10−7 cm2 s−1 at 25 °C.