Enhancing the performance of proton exchange membranes: Incorporating layered double hydroxides into low sulfonated polyether sulfone octyl sulfonamide composite membranes

Abstract

An interesting approach was employed to fabricate ion exchange membranes tailored for proton exchange membrane applications. This involved blending low sulfonated polyether sulfone octyl sulfonamide (LSPSO) with Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) clay at varying weight ratios (1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 6 wt%). Comprehensive characterization of the resulting composite membranes was conducted using diverse techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, to evaluate surface morphology and thermal stability. Notably, the thermal performance of the composite membrane exhibited significant enhancements compared to the pristine LSPSO membrane. The inclusion of 6 wt% LDHs in the composite membrane led to a substantial increase in proton conductivity, rising from 35.04 mS/cm to 143.75 mS/cm at 100 °C. This discovery underscores the potential of the LDHs/LSPSO composite membrane as an electrolyte membrane for high-temperature fuel cell applications.