Novel composite membranes of triazole modified graphene oxide and polybenzimidazole for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications

Abstract

Simultaneously improving the proton conductivity and mechanical properties of a polymer electrolyte, especially to phosphoric acid doped membranes, is a challenge for the preparation of membrane materials in application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. We prepared a novel composite membrane by introducing triazole functionalized graphene oxide into the polybenzimidazole for use as a high temperature proton exchange membrane. Increases in both proton conductivity and tensile strength were achieved by the composite membrane compared with the pure PBI membrane after doping with phosphoric acid. The triazole modified graphene oxide could disperse well in the polar organic solvent, which resulted in easy fabrication of the homogeneous membranes. The proposed material is a demonstration for designing and preparing inorganic composite polymer electrolytes with superior properties.