Abstract:
This research has concerned a development of nanocomposite polymeric membrane to be used as an
electrolyte in a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) using poly(vinyl alcohol) as a polymer matrix.
Proton conductivity of the polymer was induced by carrying out via a sulfonation using
sulfosuccinic acid. Additionally, methanol permeability in the membrane was reduced by mixing
the polymer with some layer silicate nanofiller. The aim of this research was to investigate the
effects of type, and content of the nanolayer silicates on properties of nanocomposite membranes
such as ion exchange capacity, water uptake, proton conductivity and methanol permeability. From
the results, it was found that proton conductivity of some of the sulfonated polytvinyl alcohol)
membranes were comparable to that of Nafion? 115 membrane, whereas the methanol permeability
of these membranes were lower than that of the Nafion? 115. The best nanocomposite membrane
was that obtained by reacting poly(vinyl alcohol) with 20% (w/w%) sulfosuccinic acid and mixing
with 2% (w/w% of PVA) of the Cloisite 30B nanofiller. It had the highest C/P ratio value.
(249.39x10 3 However, mechanical properties of the nanocomposite membranes were lower than
those of the Nafion 115 membrane and those should be further improved.