Proton transport in membranes prepared from sulfonated polystyrene-poly(vinylidene fluoride) blends

The preparation of new, cation-exchange membranes from polymer composites b ased on poly(vinylidene fluoride), sulfonated polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene , and antimonic acid is. reported. The thermal properties of the composites have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry Values of the transport number of protons in the membranes were obtained from the observ able electric potential. It is defined from the potential difference measur ed between the electrodes reversible to one of the constituent ions in equi librium with the system. When compared with Nafion cation-exchange membrane s, the membranes described in this work exhibit interesting proton transpor t properties that could make them suitable as polymer electrolytes in fuel cells. (C) 2001 The Electrochemical Society.