281128 Effect of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes On the Transport Properties of Poly(styrene-isobutylene-styrene) Membranes

Thursday, November 1, 2012: 4:55 PM
Cambria East (Westin )
Sonia L. Aviles-Barreto1, Stephanie Ortiz2, Ishar Rosado3 and David Suleiman1, (1)Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR, (2)Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayguez, PR, (3)Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, PR

In this study, the transport properties of poly(styrene-isobutylene-styrene) (SIBS) were measured as a function of sulfonation level and single-walled carbon nanotube loading for gas sensors and fuel cell applications. Sulfonated SIBS were functionalized with single walled carbon nanotubes to create highly selective polymer nanocomposite membranes. The nanocomposite membranes were characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and elemental analysis (EA), to confirm and determine accurate sulfonation levels. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed in order to evaluate the thermal stability, which increases with sulfonation level while nanocomposite membranes maintained the same degradation temperature. Absorption limitations and their effect on the membrane transport were investigated for sulfonated and nanocomposite membranes through water swelling and permeability experiments. Although proton conductivity and methanol permeability increase with sulfonation level until a maximum suggesting an optimum sulfonation, the effect single-walled carbon nanotubes influences the transport properties based on the changes in morphology and nanochannel size and configuration. To complement the studies, selectivity (i.e., proton conductivity/methanol permeability) of the nanocomposite membranes were determined and compared to Nafion® 117.

Extended Abstract: File Not Uploaded
See more of this Session: Composites for Energy Applications
See more of this Group/Topical: Materials Engineering and Sciences Division