INVESTIGATION OF APPLICATION OF POLI(VINYL ALCOHOL) (PVA) BASED MEMBRANES TO FUEL CELLS


Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Turkey

Approval Date: 2007

Student: BURCU GÖZÜTOK

Supervisor: MUZAFFER BALBAŞI

Abstract:

In our modern world, fuel cells have application and utilization area as an efficient, economical and enviromentaly friendly energy production technology. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are the most attractive fuel cell types due to their high efficiency at low temperatures, silent and emission free operation. In this study, it is aimed to obtain proton conductive membranes for PEMFCs. PVA based membranes prepared with different amounts of sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) and colloidal silica (Ludox) to investigate its effect on proton conductivity. FT-IR spectrums showed that Ludox addition is not at molecular size. It was observed that SSA and Ludox addition is effective on Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC) values of membranes and IEC values were found between 4,3-6,2 mmol/g. The water uptakes of membranes were found between %10-80 and observed that water uptake of membranes are reduced with the increasing amount of SSA and Ludox. The IEC values of obtained membranes are higher than Nafion 117 (0,91 mmol/gr) and it was observed that they have access to 80% water uptake without swelling. The proton conductivities of membranes increasing with the amount of SSA and Ludox and found between 10-6-10-3.