Preparation and Characterization of TPA Captured CL-SPEEK Polymer Composite Membranes for Water Electrolysis

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composite including tungstophosphoric acid(TPA) membranes have been intensively investigated for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) and thus covalently linked sulfonated polyether ether ketone (CL-SPEEK) with captured TPA composite membranes were prepared and characterized. Sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) was prepared in sulfonation of PEEK and was cross-linked with 1,4 diiodobutane. The carbonyl group of SPEEK was reduced with $NaBH_4$ and 3-isocyanatepropyltriethoxysilane (ICPTES) was added. The TPA captured composite was prepared in reaction of TPA with 3-mercaptopropyltrime thoxysilane (MPTMS). The polymer composite membranes showed better thermostability and electrochemical properties than SPEEK. The membranes were prepared by sol-gel casting method. The polymer composite membrane featured 0.1285 S/cm of proton conductivity at $80^{\circ}C$ and outstanding durability.