Proton conducting composite membranes from polysulfone and heteropolyacid for fuel cell applications

The viability of using composite membranes of heteropolyacid (HPA)/polysulfone (PSF), HPA/sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) was investigated. PSF and its sulfonated polymer, SPSF was solution‐blended with phosphotungstic acid, a commercially available HPA. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the HPA–40/SPSF composite exhibited band shifts showing a possibility of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between the HPA additive and the sulfonated polymer. The composite membranes exhibited improved mechanical strength and low water uptake. The conductivity of the composite membrane, HPA–40/SPSF, consisting of 40 wt % HPA and 60 wt % SPSF [with a degree of Sulfonation (DS) of 40%] exhibited a conductivity 0.089 S/cm at room temperature that linearly increased upto 0.14 S/cm at 120 °C, whereas the widely used commercial membrane Nafion 117, exhibited a room temperature conductivity of 0.1 S/cm that increased to only 0.12 S/cm at 120 °C. In contrast, the composite of HPA–40/PSF exhibited a proton conductivity of 0.02 S/cm at room temperature that increased only to 0.07 S/cm at a temperature of 100 °C. The incorporation of HPA into SPSF not only rendered the membranes suitable for elevated temperature operation of PEMFC but also provides an inexpensive alternative compared to Nafion.