Development of Inorganic-organic Membranes Consisting of ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O and Sulfonated-PES for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

作者：Hirashige Takayuki^*; Kamo Tomoichi; Ishikawa Takao; Itabashi Takeyuki

来源：Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems, 2012, 15(2): 83-88.

We investigated inorganic-organic membranes consisting of sulfonated-poly(ether sulfone) (S-PES) and ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O with the aim of improving proton conductivity and blocking methanol. We prepared excellent uniform membranes by the method using ZrOCl(2)8H(2)O as a precursor. The proton conductivity of the ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O/S-PES (EW=850) composite membrane with 50wt% ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O content was about four times higher than that of S-PES (EW=850). On the other hand, the methanol permeability of the ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O/S-PES (EW=850) composite membrane with 50wt% ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O content was almost the same as that of S-PES (EW=850). These results mean in the composite membranes, the trade-off relationship between proton conductivity and methanol permeability found in S-PES was improved. The initial I-V performance of an MEA consisting of the ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O/S-PES (EW=850) composite membrane with 50wt% ZrO2 center dot nH(2)O content showed a maximum power density of 65 mW cm(-2) at 260 mA cm(-2).

• 出版日期2012-4