Effect of UV irradiation time on properties SPEEK-MC membrane / Mohamad Hazrul Haziq Azmi

This project focusing on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). Sulfonated Poly Ether Ether ketone (SPEEK) was used to replace Nafion as a membrane. Due to drawback of SPEEK, hybrid membranes of SPEEK-MC mixing of SPEEK with Methyl Cellulose using fixed composition was proposed and have been prepared. Then, SPEEK-MC hybrid membrane have been crosslinking using UV irradiation under different time from 0 minutes until 240 minutes. The membrane have been characterized with 'H-NMR, ionic conductivity, water uptake and FTIR. The degree of sulfonation of SPEEK is 68%. The ionic conductivity at different UV irradiation time has been studied on the membranes and the results showed that the ionic conductivity was decreased with decreasing of UV irradiation time. The introduction of methoxide group in the base polymer membrane helping in increasing water uptake while crosslinking SPEEK and MC. The highest percentage of water uptake capability at 50 minutes irradiation time. From the characterization of water uptake capability showed that the percentage of water uptake increases at suitable irradiation time