The effect of nanoclay loading on physico-chemical properties of SPEEK electrolyte membrane

Abstract

Nanocomposite of SPEEK membrane was prepared by incorporating Cloisite15A® via solution interaction method to improve the physical-chemical properties of parent SPEEK membrane. Various weight of Cloisite15A® clays were added into SPEEK matrices. The physico-chemical properties of the SPEEK nanocomposites were studied based on morphological structure, liquid uptake, proton conductivity and methanol permeability as respect to the SPEEK with 63% of degree of sulfonation (DS). The distribution of Cloisite15A® particles in SPEEK matrices was confirmed by SEM analysis. The methanol permeability of the SPEEK nanocomposite membranes declined as the Cloisite15A® weight loading increased. The proton conductivity of SPEEK with 2.5 wt. % of Cloisite15A® loading exceeded that of parent SPEEK membrane. The influence of water behavior on the proton conductivity and methanol permeability was critically discussed. Owing to high proton conductivity and low methanol permeability SPEEK/Cloisite15A® nanocomposite membrane performed essentially improved selectivity with nine-fold higher than that of parent SPEEK