Lead(II) sulfide micro‐crystals doped graphene nanosheets dispersed thermoplastic and multifunctional poly(benzoxazines) cured epoxy resin nanocomposites for medium temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications

Abstract

AbstractThe amphiphilic polybenzoxazines‐co‐epoxy membrane (POPBOs/PTGP) was created by thermally cross‐linking the multi‐functional octylamine‐based benzoxazine monomer (OPBOs) with synthesized 1,3,5‐tris(oxiran‐2‐yl methoxy)benzene epoxy monomer (TGP). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the functionality, crystallinity, and morphology of microcrystal lead(II) sulfide (PbS)/graphene nanosheets (mPbS/GNs). The bare POPBOs/PTGP and different amounts of mPbS/GNs dispersed polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) were obtained from the thermal curing process. Following that, these PNCs were used in medium‐temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The water uptake, ion exchange capacity (IEC), swelling ratio, oxidative stability, and proton conductivity (PC) of bare and loaded mPbS/GNs hybrid nanostructures on POPBOs/PTGP composite membranes were determined. 3 wt% mPbS/GNs distributed with POPBOs/PTGP PNCs exhibit the highest IEC value of 3.61 mmol/g−1 at room temperature, and a PC value of around 6.33 × 10−2 S/cm−1 at 120°C was obtained for the POPBOs/PTGP PNCs. In addition, the single‐cell electrode analysis of the 3 wt% mPbS/GNs‐filled POPBOs/PTGP amphiphilic PNCs showed excellent peak power density and open circuit voltage values of 0.897 W cm−2 and 0.97 V at 120°C.