Pore filling electrolyte based alkaline anion exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFCS).

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are potential future energy sources for portable devices and automobiles. The current materials for membrane in the market such as Nafion® is not suitable for use in DMFC, due to its high methanol crossover, and low mechanical stability in which the membrane swells upon hydration. This project investigates the probable use of the pore-filling electrolyte based alkaline anion exchange membrane in DMFC. It is identified that polyimides have higher mechanical strength than other polymer types, hence it is suitable as a membrane matrix. By using a suitable pore-filling electrolyte, it will impart the electrochemical properties of anion exchange to the composite membrane, while overcoming limitations of traditional alkaline anion exchange membranes. The following experiments for the project will focus on the fabrication of the membrane matrix, the synthesis of the pore-filling electrolyte, and the fabrication of the composite membrane through infiltration of the electrolyte into the pore-filling substrate. This is to produce a pore-filling electrolyte based alkaline anion exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cell. The polyimide chosen of interest is the poly(amic acid). The pore structure of the membrane present a suitable candidate for the filling of the pore matrix to form a composite membrane. The electrolyte chosen of interest was the quaternary ammonia polysulfone.Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering