Effect of Hot Pressing Parameters on the Performance of Graphene Oxide Speek Membrane Electrode Assembly for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Application

Fuel cells have garnered significant research attention over the past decades due to their versatility across portable, transportation, and stationary applications. Among various types, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) stands out as the most promising due to its ability to generate clean energy using hydrogen and oxygen without carbon dioxide emissions. Nafion, the commercial proton-conducting membrane used in PEMFCs, offers excellent proton conductivity along with high chemical and thermal stability. However, its high cost and limited operational temperature range (up to 80 °C) poses significant challenges for practical applications. Therefore, this study explores a cost-effective alternative nanocomposite membrane based on sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) as a carbonaceous filler. GO was synthesized via a modified Hummer’s method and integrated into the SPEEK matrix. The resulting nanocomposite membrane was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphological analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify functional groups. The Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) was optimized using hot-pressing at 110 °C under 5 tons for 4 minutes, achieving a peak power output of 184.02 mW. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of GO enhances the performance of the PEM, positioning GO-SPEEK as a promising and cost-effective substitute for Nafion in PEMFC applications.