Study of High Performance Sulfonated Polyether Ether Ketone Composite Electrolyte Membranes

In this study, high performance composite electrolyte membranes were prepared from polyether ether ketone polymeric material. An initial sulfonation reaction improved the membrane hydrophilicity and its water absorbability and thus enhanced the ionic conductivity in electrochemical cells. Protonic conductivity was improved from 10^-4 to 10^-2 S cm^-1 with an increasing sulfonation time from 72 to 175 h. The effects of blending nano SiO₂ into the composite membranes were devoted to improve thermal and mechanical properties, as well as methanol permeability. Methanol permeability was reduced to 3.1 × 10^-7 cm² s^-1. Finally, a further improvement in ionic conductivity was carried out by a supercritical carbon dioxide treatment under 20 MPa at 40°C for 30 min with an optimum SiO₂ blend ratio of 10 wt-%. The plasticizing effect by the Lewis acid-base interaction between CO₂ and electron donor species on polymer chains decreased the glass transition and melting temperatures. The results show that sulfonated composite membranes blended with SiO₂ and using a supercritical carbon dioxide treatment exhibit a lower glass transition temperature, higher ionic conductivity, lower methanol permeability, good thermal stability, and strong mechanical properties. Ionic conductivity was improved to 1.55 × 10^-2 S cm^-1. The ion exchange capacity and the degree of sulfonation were also investigated.