Fabrication and evaluation of the characteristics of ion exchange membranes based on Nafion membranes

Abstract

This experiment has fabricated and evaluated the properties of ion exchange membranes based on Nafion membranes (hybrid membranes). The characteristic properties of the hybrid membrane were investigated such as: FT-IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ion exchange capacity (IEC), water absorption (WU) and ionic conductivity (σ). The survey results confirm the successful hybridization of NaSS and METAC into Nafion molecules. Changes in surface morphology of the hybrid Nafion membrane compared with the very smooth surface of the original commercial Nafion membrane (N212). Physicochemical properties such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), water absorption (WU) were shown to be reduced when the amount of NaPSS in the hybrid membrane was reduced. Ionic conductivity (σ) gives the ion transport capacity of the membrane will be changed when adjusting the monomer content in these membrane.