Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes incorporated quaternized polysulfone composites for alkaline membrane fuel cells

Author(s): Rajangam Vinodh, Dharmalingam Sangeetha*

A novel quaternized polysulfone/functionalized MWCNT (QPSU/f- MWCNT) composite polymer membrane was prepared, using the solution castingmethod. The characteristic properties of the QPSU/MWCNT composite membranes were investigated, using the FTIR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy.Alkaline membrane fuel cell (AMFC) comprisedQPSU/f-MWCNT compositemembrane, were prepared and examined. The experimental results reveal that theAMFCemploying a cheap non-perfluorinated (QPSU/f-MWCNT) composite membrane which shows excellent electrochemical performances. The maximum H2/O2 fuel cell performance was achieved for QPSU/5% f- MWCNT membrane with a power density of 190 mWcm-2. The composite membranes were subjected to cyclic voltammetry studies for methanol oxidation. The direct methanol alkaline membrane fuel cell (DMAMFC), exhibits amaximumpower density of 65mWcm-2 forQPSU/5%f-MWCNT membrane.