Dynamic Membranes on Polysulfone Support for Fuel Cells

Abstract

In the present paper, the authors dealt with the synthesis and characterization of a new type of dynamic membrane with polysulfone matrix and ionic polymer electrolyte: polysulfone-sulfonated polyetherether-sulfone (PSf-SPEEK). The PSf-SPEEK composite membranes were formed by ultrafiltration of SPEEK gel on the polysulfone matrix in a CELFA System installation. The thickness of the PSf porous layer for the different membranes can be between 50 and 120 mm. The variation of SPEEK active layer�s thickness is dependent both on the concentration of the SPEEK solution in the feed, and on the velocity of the surface flow. The sulfonated polymer (SPEEK) superficial layer ranges from 35 to 75 nm, being thicker at low flow rates having a slight increasing related to the increase of the SPEEK concentration. Increasing the polymer concentration, from 0.5 to 2.5%, used in the feed solution leads to a doubling of the conductivity and a tripling of the ion exchange capacity. The maximum conductivity of the PSf-SPEEK dynamic composite membranes is 0.234 S/cm and the ion exchange capacity is 1.682 meq/g.