| Abstract |
In this study, The sulfonated poly (imide-siloxanes) (SPI-SXs) were synthesized using 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA), aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), 2,2 -benzidinedisulfonic acid (BDSA) as the sulfonated diamine groups. The prepared membranes were characterized in terms of FT-IR, H1-NMR, water uptake, dimensional changes and proton conductivity. Proton conductivity of the SPI-SX membranes was compared with one of the Nafion® membranes with saturated humidity.
The adhesion effect and porosity of catalyst electrodes in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) using a Nafion® ionomer was investigated according to physical and electrochemical properties by varying the content of ionomer binder in the catalyst electrodes. The SPI-SX-based MEAs were compared with the Nafion®-based MEA using Nafion® 212 and 5 wt.% ionomer solution in terms of adhesion values, the scanning electron microscopic(SEM) images and I¡VV polarization curves. According to the results of SEM and I¡VV polarization curves, the electrodes using 0.3mg/cm2, 35% and 0.5mg/cm2, 35% loading of Nafion® ionomer for respectivetiveSPI-SX-based and Nafion 212 membranes, might have the similar electrode configuration in terms of porosity. Improvement on electrochemical properties (i.e.I¡VV polarization curves) was shown up to the Nafion® ionomer content more than of 35% in the catalyst layers for SPI-SX-base membrane. As a result, the performance of the new type polymer (i.e. SPI-SX in this study)-based MEA with the similar membrane conductivity, adhesion effect and porosity of the catalyst electrode in the Nafion® MEA was similar to that of the Nafion® MEA. It is believed that adhesion effect and porosity control suggested in this study can be one of main parameters to design MEA¡¦s electrodes prepared by various polymers. |
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