Composite membranes of sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) doped with 12-phosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40) for proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) (SPPEK) and 12-phosphotungstic acid (PWA) composite membranes were prepared by the casting procedure, using SPPEK solution blended with PWA. The physicochemical properties of these composite membranes were studied by means of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FSEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. The PWA particles in composite membranes are stable due to the interaction between SO3H group of SPPEK and PWA particles. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane containing 10% PWA reaches the maximum of 0.17 S/cm at 80 °C under 100% relative humidity.