FT-IR, TGA, DSC and PCM Characterization of Synthesised 1-Vinyl-1,2,4-Triazole Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMS) for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCS)

Aim: To synthesize a polymer electrolyte membranes with semi interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) structures consisting of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole-co-divinyl benzene) (P(VTri-co-DVB)) and to characterized by FT-IR spectroscopic analysis, thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA), proton conductivity measurement and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Study Design: Synthesizing anhydrous electrolyte membranes, cheaper than DuPont’s Nafion, and with high proton conductivities at elevated temperatures.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey. Between September 2013 to January 2014.

Methodology: The methodology employed is the in situ synthesis, whereby all reactants are mixed before the triggering the polymerization or cross-linking reaction.

Results: The synthesized membranes, PVDF/P(VTri-co-DVB)/TA, were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Thermal stability of the samples was investigated using TGA. The TGA plots of PVDF/P(VTri-co-DVB)/TA membranes with two different PVDF contents showed a satisfactory thermal stability up to 320°C and 340°C. As PVDF content was doubled, thermal stability slightly increased as expected.

Conclusion: Polymer electrolyte membranes with semi interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) structures consisting of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly (1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole-co-divinyl benzene) (P(VTri-co-DVB)), and triflic acid (TA) were successfully fabricated in one pot and in a single step.