Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Sulfonated Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Membranes for Use in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)

In this study, novel cross-linked nanocomposite membranes have been prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and aryl sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) and a way of cross-linking to improve the chemical, thermal, and mechanical stabilities of the nanocomposite was adopted. The surface of the graphene oxide nanoparticles was modified by aryl diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid. It was revealed that addition of SGO (5 wt %) into the PVA matrix improves the thermal stability (melting temperature, T m = 223 °C), mechanical stability (tensile strength, TS = 67.8 MPa) and proton conductivity (σ = 0.050 S cm –1 ) of the nanocomposite proton exchange membranes. A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) fabricated with the PVA/SGO membrane showed a maximum power density of 16.15 mW cm –2 at 30 °C. As a result, the investigated PVA/SGO nanocomposite membranes have good potential for further studies and applications in PEMFCs.