Preparation of proton-conducting sulfonated poly(etheretherketone) /Heteropolyacid /MMT composite membranes by Cross- Link process

Abstract

New composite membranes were prepared using cross-linked sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) by K+ ions. For preparing the sPEEK samples, the obtained PEEK polymeric granules were dried at 100 ºC using a vacuum oven. The sulfonated PEEK dissolved in DMAc solution and then casted on a clean glassy petri-dish and then dried at room temperature. The sulfonated PEEK polymeric samples were soaked in KCl aqueous solution (0.5 mol.L-1) for 24 hours at 80 ºC. Then, the samples were dissolved into DMAc solutio . The inorganic modifiers such as Tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) and montmorillonite (MMT) clay were used for improving the membranes properties and proton conductivity. Decompose in The membrane occurs in three steps.TGA and Proton Conductivity tests were used in order to characterize the membranes. The cross-linked membranes showed higher thermal stability and lower water absorption. It was found that the presence MMT-TPA (1:5) in the sPEEK-kPEEK membranes resulted in high water uptake and proton conductivity (maximum value 0.0598 Scm−1). The membranes proton conductivity were measured by means of the AC impedance technique at various frequencies (10 to 〖10〗^6 Hz) . The conductivity experiments were performed at temperature range of 25–80 °C.