Influence of Composite Electrolyte Membrane for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) under humidified condition using composite sulfonated polyether-ether ketones (sPEEK) membrane 1 is reported. Composite sPEEK membrane that were used in this report, have been produced and compared by additional of i.e. organic polymer (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) 2 and silica powder inorganic 3 to sPEEK polymer 1. Whereas, sPEEK 1, which is known as hydrocarbon polyelectrolyte membrane for PEMFC and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) to replace Nafion, has been the most used in both PEMFC and DMFC due to its good performance even though in low humidified condition it showed poor current density. Here we reported the effect of inorganic silica in hydrocarbon sPEEK membrane that contributes for a better water management system inside the cell, and showed 0.16 W/cm² of power density which is 78% higher than that of non-silica modified.