Poly vinyl alcohol/BaZrO3 nanocomposite membranes for the application of PEMFC

Poly vinyl alcohol-BaZrO3 (PB) and poly vinyl alcoholpoly vinyl pyrrolidone-BaZrO3 (PPB) nanocomposite membranes have been prepared with solutions casting method, with using a Glutaraldehyde (GA) as cross linking agent. The effect of BaZrO3 nanoparticles content and mass ratio of PVA: PVP on the proton conductivity, water uptake and also the morphology of the membranes were investigated. The results showed that, water uptake and proton conductivity of nanocomposite membranes due to hydrophilic nature of BaZrO3 nanoparticles and PVP were higher than that of the PVA based membrane. PPB nanocomposite membranes containing 1 wt % of nanoparticles and mass ratio of PVA: PVP (76:23) demonstrated higher water uptake (3059) and proton conductivity (1.9 ×10-2 S/cm) than PB and other PPB nanocomposite membranes.