A self-humidifying membrane based on low-cost sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) hybrid with sulfated zirconia (SO4(2-)/ZrO2, SZ)-supported platinum catalyst (Pt-SZ catalyst) was investigated for fuel cell applications. The SZ particle, a solid-state superacid with hygroscopic and high proton conductivity properties, was employed as the catalyst support. The SPEEK/Pt-SZ self-humidifyi...

Gold nanoparticles, capped by 3-mercapto propane sulfonate (Au-3MPS), were synthesized inside a swollen sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane (sPEEK). The formation of the Au-3MPS nanoparticles in the swollen sPEEK membrane was observed by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The nanocomposite containing the gold nanoparticles grown in the sPEEK membrane, showed the plasmon resonanc...

Water sorption, volumetric expansion, and proton conductivity of 1100 EW Nafion and 555 EW sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK) were compared as functions of water activity at 60 and 80 C. Water sorption in Nafion occurs with a small positive volume of mixing, 0.005 cm/cm. In contrast, water sorption in SPEEK has a large negative volume of mixing 0.05 cm/cm. The percolation thresholds for pr...

A silicotungstic acid (STA) was successfully impregnated onto K10 montmorillonite (MMT) in an effort to improve the properties of SPEEK membrane. Several characterizations such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were carried out in order to confirm the entrapment of STA molecule onto MMT. It was found that the ST...

Design of polymeric membranes for fuel cells application requires suitable selection and modification of polymers. This review accounts the various polymeric membranes available for use in fuel cells, advantages of sulphonation of polymers, various sulphonation methods and the characterization techniques. Presently, SPEEK finds extensive application as polymeric membrane in fuel cells. The adva...

The ease and low environmental impact of its preparation, the reduced fuel crossover, cost, make sulfonated polyether ether ketone (sPEEK) a potential candidate to replace Nafion ionomer in proton exchange membrane cells (PEMFCs). In this study, sPEEK was used as polymer matrix for preparation nanocomposite electrolyte membranes by dispersing an organo-silica layered material properly functiona...

Nanofillers can be added to polymers improve their mechanical behaviour. However, the yield behaviour of most polymer composites is influenced by strain rate. The majority research focused on at high rates. This work aims investigate how hydroxyapatite (HAP) and reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) nanofillers affect properties sulphonated polyetheretherketone (sPEEK) low (tensile compression behaviour...

The kinetics of Ag nanoparticle photogeneration inside optically transparent thin polymer films was studied. Light sensitive polymer films able to initiate the reduction of Ag ions were prepared by blending poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, and sulphonated poly(ether etherketone), SPEEK. Photolysis of such films with 350 nm photons produced benzophenyl ketyl (BPK) radicals of SPEEK, which are strong re...

A low cost cation exchange membrane to be used in a specific bioelectrochemical system has been developed using poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK). This material is presented as an alternative to current commercial ion exchange membranes that have been primarily designed for fuel cell applications. To increase the hydrophilicity and ion transport of the PEEK material, charged groups are introduced...

The structure of a commercial sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membrane was analyzed by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) for different water uptakes obtained after immersion in liquid water at various temperatures. For low membrane swelling, the SAXS profile displays only a wide-angle peak in the 0.2-0.3 Å(-1) region. As the membrane swells, two supplementary correlation peaks ari...