Quaternized Polyethersulfone (QPES) Membrane with Imidazole Functionalized Graphene Oxide (ImGO) for Alkaline Anion Exchange Fuel Cell Application

Moshito Lethabo Mothupi and Phumlani Fortune Msomi ()
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Moshito Lethabo Mothupi: Department of Chemical Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
Phumlani Fortune Msomi: Department of Chemical Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-18

Abstract: Membranes made up of composite materials have shown promising advantages for application in alkaline fuel cell anion exchange membranes. In this study, a general method is employed to improve the overall performance and properties of alkaline anion exchange membranes by making use of polyethersulfone quaternized with imidazolium groups and blended with imidazolium functionalized graphene oxide inorganic filler (ImGO). The inorganic filler blended with the polymer matrix yielded better ionic transport, with 73.2 mS·cm −1 being the highest ion conductivity for the polymer membrane with 0.5% ImGO content, which is higher than that of the QPES parent material. The 0.5% ImGO content also showed better swelling ratio, water uptake, alkaline stability, ion exchange capacity and alkaline stability in comparison to other membranes. Furthermore, it also exhibited 130 mW·cm −2 peak power.

Keywords: alkaline anion exchange membrane (AAEM); polyethersulfone (PES); graphene oxide (GO); imidazole; fuel cells; functionalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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