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Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research Special issue

High-Performance Polymer Composite Membranes for Selective Ion Transport in Advanced Energy Conversion Systems

  1. Shanthi Kumaraguru Department of Information Technology, D Y Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi, Pune
  2. Prashant V. Thokal Department of Electrical Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon
  3. P. William School of Computer Science and Technology, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore
  4. Ganesh P. Dawange Department of Structural Engineering, Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon
  5. Dharmendra Kumar Roy Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management, Medchal, Hyderabad
  6. Pravin B. Khatkale School of Engineering and Technology, Sanjivani University, Kopargaon

Abstract

The development of high-performance Polymer Composite Membranes (PCM) with enhanced ion transport is essential for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). However, low-humidity conditions and filter agglomeration still limit long-term membrane stability. This research designs a functionalized PCM integrating cross-linked Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Poly (Ethylene Glycol) (PVA/PEG) matrix with sulfonic acid functional groups and Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) nanofillers to improve selective ion transport under low-humidity conditions. Two types of PCM were fabricated using controlled solution casting and chemical cross-linking to enhance mechanical stability and dimensional integrity. The resulting membranes were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to evaluate crystallinity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for functional group analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine morphological features. Physicochemical properties, including water uptake, swelling ratio, and ion exchange capacity (IEC), were systematically analyzed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed to determine ionic conductivity and transport efficiency. The second type achieved reduced water uptake of 28.1%, controlled swelling ratio of 14.6%, and improved IEC of 1.48 meq/g. XRD analysis confirmed reduced crystallinity and increased amorphous regions for enhanced ion mobility. SEM analysis revealed a denser and more compact morphology with uniformly distributed TiO₂ nanoparticles. FTIR analysis confirmed improved hydrogen bonding interactions and continuous proton-conducting pathways. EIS analysis showed ionic conductivity improvement from 1.41×10⁻³ S/cm to 2.00×10⁻³ S/cm with bulk resistance reduction from 85Ω to 60Ω, confirming superior electrochemical performance for PEMFC applications. demonstrated superior conductivity, reduced crystallinity, enhanced proton transport, and balanced mechanical integrity for PEMFC applications

Keywords

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