The Study of Anhydrous Binary and Ternary PVDF-HFP/Oxalic Acid/DMA Blended Polymer Electrolytes Systems for Fuel Cell Applications

A new series of anhydrous binary and ternary acid-base systems composed of Oxalic acid (OA), Dimethylacetamide (DMA) and Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP) has been developed. Ionic conductivity in the range of 10^-2 S/cm was observed for binary acid-base compositions at temperatures above 100^oC. The acid and base were added to the polymer in various compositions to improve the properties of polymer electrolyte such as proton conductivity and thermal stability. The ternary system with the highest proton conductivity was in the range of 10^-3 S/cm at 150^oC. IEC values were observed to compliment the proton conductivity values. SEM studies showed DMA plays an important role in improving the morphology of the electrolyte. Thermal stability studies were carried out on these materials and it was found that they had high thermal stabilities up to 350^oC.