Preparation of the acidic PVA/MMT nanocomposite polymer membrane for the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)

A novel nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membrane composed of PVA polymer matrix and nanosized Montmorillonite (MMT) filler. was prepared by a solution casting method. The characteristic properties of the PVA/MMT nanocomposite polymer membrane were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and the AC impedance method. The PVA polymer directly blended with nanosized MMT filler (2-20 wt.%) showed good ionic conductivity, thermal, and mechanical properties. The highest ionic conductivity value for the acidic PVA/10 wt.% MMT nanocomposite polymer membrane was around 0.0368 S cm(-1) at 30 degrees C. The methanol permeability (P) value was 3-4 x 10(-6) cm(2)s(-1). It was revealed that the addition of nanosized MMT fillers into the PVA matrix could markedly improve the electrochemical properties of the PVA/MMT nanocomposite membrane. In fact, the PVA/MMT nanocomposite polymer membrane appears to be a good candidate for the DMFC applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.