Polysulfone-Based Membranes Modified with Ionic Liquids and Silica for Potential Fuel Cell Applications
The urgent need for sustainable, low-emission energy solutions has positioned proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as a promising technology in clean energy conversion. Polysulfone (PSF) membranes with incorporated ionic liquid (IL) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane-functionalized silica...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/14/12/270 |
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| Summary: | The urgent need for sustainable, low-emission energy solutions has positioned proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as a promising technology in clean energy conversion. Polysulfone (PSF) membranes with incorporated ionic liquid (IL) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane-functionalized silica (SiO<sub>2</sub>-PDMS) were developed and characterized for their potential application in PEMFCs. Using a phase inversion method, membranes with various combinations of PSFs, SiO<sub>2</sub>-PDMS, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium triflate (BMI.TfO) (1–10 wt%) were prepared and characterized to assess their morphology, porosity, wettability, ionic conductivity, and thermal stability. Incorporating IL significantly altered the membrane structure, increasing porosity and surface roughness, while SiO<sub>2</sub>-PDMS enhanced IL retention, reducing leakage by up to 32%. Proton conductivity increased by up to 30 times compared to pure PSF, and membranes exhibited high hydrophilicity at optimal IL concentrations. This work highlights the potential of IL and silica-based membranes for practical applications in PEMFCs. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-0375 |