Crosslinked poly(ether ether ketone): cost-effective proton exchange membranes for fuel cell application

Sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone) copolymers bearing pendant carboxylic acid (SPEEK-C) have been synthesized via nucleophilic condensation reaction of 4,4 $$^\prime $$ -difluorobenzophenone, sulphonated 4,4 $$^\prime $$ -difluorobenzophenone and 3,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid. The structure of the sulphonated copolymer was identified from FT-IR and $$¹$$ H-NMR spectrum. The pendant carboxylic groups of SPEEK-C were further crosslinked with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to fabricate the crosslinked (SPEEK/PVA) membranes. The performance of the membranes was evaluated in terms of water uptake, proton conductivity and oxidative stability. The thermal stabilities of the membranes were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry techniques, whereas the morphological analysis was performed by atomic force microscopy.