| Summary: | To meet the increasing requirements of membrane humidification in proton exchange
membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), a series of montmorillonite
(MMT)/PEBAX® 1074 mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated
using the solvent casting method. Pristine MMT and poly(oxyalkylene)amine
(APOP)-modified MMT were added as the filler. Using the XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and TEM, the
morphology and chemical structure of MMT during modification were investigated. Using
the tests of water vapor permeability, air permeability, water contact angle, and
crystallinity, the effects of montmorillonite on membrane properties were
investigated. The results showed that surface hydrophilicity and crystallinity of
MMMs increased as the MMT content increases, which leads to higher vapor permeability
and selectivity than the pure PEBAX® 1074 membrane. After
modification, APOP-MMT/PEBAX® 1074 MMMs showed better performance
in vapor permeability and vapor/air selectivity. The best selectivity was 1.7
× 105, which is three times higher than that of pure
PEBAX® 1074 membrane.
|
|---|