Hybird Membrane with High Proton Conductivity and Selectivity Based on SPEEK for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Composite membranes based on sulfonated silica/sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)(SPEEK) were prepared by means of sol-gel method so as to gain a high conductivity and reasonable methanol permeability.The sulfonated silica is generated in situ via the hydrolysis of sulfonated 3-anminopropyl triethoxysilane(KH550) synthesized newly from 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane and 1,4-butane sultone.The membrane with a silica mass fraction of 5% exhibits a conductivity of 0.187 S/cm at 80 °C and a methanol coefficient with 9.72×10-7 cm2/s.The composite membranes show improved condutive ability and better selectivity that can be promisingly used in direct methanol fuel cell.