View article

The stability of SPEEK/Cloisite^®/triaminopyrimidine (SP/CL/TAP) nanocomposite membrane against radical attack during DMFC operation was elucidated by the Fenton reagent test. The nanocomposite membrane was soaked in the Fenton reagent solution with 0.8–50 ppm iron salts concentration for up to 96 h. The results indicate that presence of Cloisite^® inorganic particles can improve the stability of SP/CL/TAP nanocomposite membrane against the radical attack. FT-IR characterization combined with DFT study has shown that C‒O‒C and ‒SO₃H bonding with phenylene ring, and hydrogen bonding between SPEEK, Cloisite^®, and TAP are vulnerable to the radical attack. Loss of these functional groups has caused structural deformation, deterioration of mechanical strength, and changes of hydrophilicity in the SP/CL/TAP nanocomposite membrane. Additionally, changes in its chemical structure have …