Constructing Proton-conducting Channels within Sulfonated(Poly Arylene Ether Ketone) Using Sulfonated Graphene Oxide: A Nano-Hybrid Membrane for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Nano-hybrid membranes made up using sulfonated (poly-arylene ether ketone) (SPAEK) and sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) with various weight ratio i.e., 0.5, 1 and/or 1.5 wt % were fabricated with a traditional solvent casting approach and their appropriateness for the potential application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was probed. Structural characteristics of membranes were substantiated by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, and XRD. The composite membranes revealed the outstanding thermal property with a primary weight drop at temperature of 200 °C, as proved by TGA analysis. TM-AFM images of composite membrane revealed the phase separated morphology of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, which afford the wide pathways for swift and easy conduction of protons. Additionally, integration of SGO dramatically raises the water absorption and consequently proton conductivity, whereas it decreases activation energy needed to transfer the protons via membrane. Proton conductivity value of 124 mS/cm was acquired using 1.5 wt % SGO/SPAEK composite membrane with a higher volume of water absorption i.e., 19%.