SPEEK/Polyimide Blends for Proton Conductive MembranesPresented at the 1st CARISMA Conference, Progress MEA 2008, La Grande Motte, 21st–24th September 2008.

Abstract

AbstractA series of membranes, based on sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK)/polyimide (PI) blends, was prepared at different casting conditions. They were characterised by SEM, FTIR, DMTA, DSC, TGA, water/methanol pervaporation and impedance spectroscopy. The membranes prepared at 130 °C from blends with 10, 20 and 30 wt.‐% of PI are homogeneous, and the methanol permeabilities decreased from 28 × 10–10 kg m s–1 m–2 (plain SPEEK) to 7.21, 2.61 and 0.55 × 10–10 kg m s–1 m–2, respectively. This corresponds to a 4‐ to 57‐fold methanol crossover reduction. With this improvement, by the introduction of PI, the power density of SPEEK‐based membranes in DMFC tests could be greatly improved.