SnO2 nanoparticles dispersed carboxylated Poly(arylene ether sulfones) nanocomposites for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications

The new poly (arylene ether sulfone) (CPAEs) polymer, and carboxylated through simple Thiol Ene reaction, is characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR. The SnO2 nanoparticles are synthesized via alkaline and template free, one-pot hydrothermal method and characterized using HRTEM analysis. SnO2 nanoparticles in dispersed CPAEs polymer is synthesized and examined by PXRD, SEM and TGA analyses. Further, the typical properties of bare CPAEs and 1%, 2% and 3% SnO2 NPs of dispersed CPAEs nanocomposite membranes such as water uptake, swelling ratio, ion exchange capacity, proton conductivity and oxidative stability are evaluated. The PXRD pattern suggests the successful formation of amorphous natured CPAEs polymer and tetragonal rutile structured in SnO2 NPs. It is observed that the SEM images indicate SnO2 NPs, bare CPAEs polymers as spherical and form wavelike morphology. It is also noted that the HR-TEM image has identified SnO2 NPs as non-uniform in size with an average particle size of 4 nm. 3% SnO2 NPs loaded with CPAEs nanocomposite membrane exhibits an IEC value at 0.78 mmol/g-1 and a proton conductivity value of around 1.49 × 10−3 S/cm−1 at 100 °C. It shows excellent oxidative stability with a value of 12.3% degradation after being exposed to Fenton reagent at 68 °C for 8 h.