Nanocomposite membrane based on SPEEK as a perspectives application in electrochemical hydrogen compressor

Achieving favourable proton exchange membrane characteristics such as proton conduction, mechanical properties and hydrogen crossover is one of the main challenges in development of Electrochemical Hydrogen Compressor (EHC) systems for improving energy consumption. This work demonstrates three different in-house fabricated membranes based on Sulphonated poly (ether-ether ketone, SPEEK). The first membrane is an unmodified membrane ([S70]), second membrane ([S70/HNT15], 15 % wt/wt) was modified with a nanoclay (Halloysite Nanotubes, HNT), and last membrane is Halloysite nanotubes impregnated with Phosphotungstic Acid ([S70/(PWA/HNT30)15]). These membranes show different hydrogen crossover rate, with the [S70] membrane exhibiting 3.873 × 10 mol bar s cm whereas the [S70/HNT15] and [S70/(PWA/HNT30)15] nanocomposite membranes show rates of 7.296 × 10 and 9.103 × 10 mol bar s cm , respectively. Furthermore, unmodified membrane presented quadratic behaviours with increased pressure in cathodic compartment, whereas nanocomposite membranes exhibit a logarithmic behaviour. For another hand, extrapolation data show that unconventional nanocomposites membranes present a low energy consumption at high pressures, which is promising for potential candidates for use in EHC systems.