Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(arylene ether sulfone)/Functionalized Graphene Oxide Composite Membrane Having Antioxidant Property for Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) based composite membranes were prepared using hindered amine functionalized graphene oxide (HA-GO) as a hydroxyl radical scavenger to investigate the effect of functionalized GO filler on membrane properties such as chemical durability, mechanical properties, water absorption behavior, and proton conductivity. The SPAES was synthesized by nucleophilic addition, and the HA-GO was prepared by ring opening reaction between the amine unit in 4-Amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine and epoxy group in graphene oxide. When the HA-GO was incorporated into the SPAES matrix, the mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and proton conductivity of the composite membranes were improved. Especially, the SPAES/HA-GO composite membranes revealed much enhanced chemical durability compared to the pristine SPAES membrane in Fentons reagent at 70 oC due to antioxidant property of the hindered amine groups in HA-GO. Therefore, the SPAES/HA-GO composite membranes exhibited less destroyed surface structure, and lower proton conductivity decrease than the pristine SPAES membrane after immersing in Fentons reagent at 90 oC.