Investigation of the versatility of SPES membranes customized with sulfonated molybdenum disulfide nanosheets for DMFC applications

Abstract

Sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES) based proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are fabricated using sulfonated molybdenum disulfide (S-MoS2) nanosheets via facile solution casting method. SPES (DS = 30%) and S-MoS2 are synthesized and sulfonation is evidently observed in FTIR and XRD analysis. The anchoring of sulfonic acid group on exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (E-MoS2) and elemental composition of S-MoS2 are confirmed by XPS spectrum. Physico-chemical characteristics such as ion-exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, swelling ratio and oxidation stability are found to be increases after the addition of S-MoS2 into SPES matrix. Increment in S-MoS2 content in SPES matrix decreases the surface contact angle due to the increase in hydrophilicity. Further, the dispersing ability of S-MoS2 in SPES matrix is evidently shown by an increase in surface roughness, tensile strength and thermal stability of the SPES/S-MoS2 nanocomposite membranes. On the whole, SPES/S-MoS2-1 membrane showed the highest proton conductivity of 5.98 × 10−3 Scm−1, selectivity of 19.6 × 104 Scm−3s, peak power density of 28.28 mWcm−2 and lesser methanol permeability of 3.05 × 10−8 cm2s−1. The strong interfacial interaction between SPES and S-MoS2 in nanocomposite membranes create strong hydrogen bond network to facilitate the proton conduction pathway via both vehicle and Grotthuss type mechanisms. Overall results suggested that the SPES/S-MoS2 nanocomposite membranes are superior and appropriate alternative for commercially high-cost Nafion® membranes for use in renewable direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) devices.