An Experimental Preparation of Fuel Cell Quaternary Polyvinyl Benzyl Chloride (qPVBCl) Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane and Investigation of its Conductivity Characteristics

Abstract

There are different methods of preparing Quaternary polyvinyl benzyl chloride (qPVBCl) alkaline anion exchange membrane. The method which was chosen in this project is simple, relatively cheap and less time-consuming compared to the other methods. This membrane was prepared from a new polymer compound; polyvinyl benzyl chloride (PVBCl). The final membrane is a pale yellow and transparent solid, odourless, flat and smooth with the absence of air bubbles. Through-plane conductivity measurement was performed on qPVBCl alkaline anion exchange membrane and the result showed that the membrane’s conductivity rose from 1.35 x 10-2 S/cm to 1.57 x 10-2 S/cm as temperature increased from 21 oC to 61 oC. It also showed that the conductivity of the membrane was virtually constant at different periods of time at 61 oC. The conductivity was found to be excellent in the fully hydrated condition at optimum temperature 61 oC. These results give evidence that the ultimate qPVBCl Alkaline Anion Exchange membrane has enormous potentials for use in alkaline fuel cell