Anchoring HPW by amino‐modified MIL‐101(Cr) to improve the properties of SPEEK in proton exchange membranes

Abstract

AbstractIncorporating phosphotungstic acid (HPW) in proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is an effective way to improve proton conductivity, but its leakage remains a problem. It can be solved by immobilizing acid in membranes to enhance the stability of PEMs. Herein, we proposed a novel sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) composite membrane (SPEEK/HPW@MIL) that was prepared by blending amino‐modified MIL‐101(Cr) to anchor HPW. In this work, HPW was anchored through hydrogen bond to minimize its leakage and enhance the overall compatibility. The incorporation of MIL‐101(Cr)‐NH2 also helped lower the swelling ratio and improve the dimensional stability. Compared with pristine SPEEK and SPEEK/MIL membrane, the proton conductivity of the SPEEK/HPW@MIL composite membrane increased by 26% and 14%, respectively. The superior performance recommended a promising conception for anchoring HPW in PEMs.