QPPO/Palygorskite Nanocomposite as an Anion Exchange Membrane for Alkaline Fuel Cell

A series of QPPO/palygorskite composite membranes were successfully synthesized via brominated, quaternization, and alkalization. The membranes are accordingly cast from their CCl3H solutions, and fully characterized by determining the ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, thermal stabilities, hydroxide ion conductivity, and mechanical properties. The experimental results show that the membrane from QPPO/6%palygorskite has good mechanical, chemical stabilities and thermal stabilities together with high hydroxide ion conductivity (21.5 mS cm−1) at 80°C under 100% relative humidity. The composite membranes also possess excellent thermal stabilities and hydroxide ion conductivity. In this respect, they are potential and promising anion conducting membrane material for AEM full cell applications.