SPEEK/Polyimide blends for proton conductive membranes
H. Maab, M. Schieda, W. Yave, S. Shishatskiy, S.P. Nunes
Fuel Cells 9 (4), 401-409, (2009)
A 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.