Preparation of alkaline anion exchange polymer membrane from methylated melamine grafted poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) and its fuel cell performance

A new material based on aminated and cross-linked methylated melamine grafted poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) was synthesized and used as a membrane for an alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AAEMFC). FT-IR spectra showed successful methylation of melamine and the ammonium quaternisation of the synthesized materials. DSC tests showed that the synthesized material had a high glass transition temperature, around 146 degrees C, and TGA showed the degradation temperature was 150 degrees C. The ion exchanged membrane tensile stress was 12.1 MPa, and the Young's Modulus was 0.142 GPa with a fractured elongation of 14%. The anion through plane conductivity increased from 1.3 x 10(-2) to 1.7 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) when the temperature was increased from 25 degrees C to 60 degrees C. The optimum ionomer loading in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) used in fuel cells was around 20 wt% for the synthesized ionomer. The power density of the fuel cell was 156 and 76 mW cm(-2) at room temperature (15 degrees C) with O-2/H-2 and H-2/air fuel cells, respectively. These results show that the resultant membrane is a promising material for the AAEMFC.