Zahra Seyedzadeh - Department of Chemistry, Malek-ashtar University of Technology, Shahin-shahr, ۸۳۱۴۵/۱۱۵ I. R., Iran
Fariborz Atabaki - Department of Chemistry, Malek-ashtar University of Technology, Shahin-shahr, ۸۳۱۴۵/۱۱۵ I. R., Iran
Negin Ghaemi - Department of Chemical Engineering, Kermanshah University of Technology, ۶۷۱۷۸ Kermanshah, Iran
Mohammad Nasiri - Department of Chemistry, Malek-ashtar University of Technology, Shahin-shahr, ۸۳۱۴۵/۱۱۵ I. R., Iran

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) in hydrogen fuel cells have become more noted in recent years. The use of composite membranes is made as a way to improve the performance of the proton conductive membranes. The purpose of this study is to fabrication and improves the function of proton exchange membranes from methyl methacrylatemaleimide copolymer.poly(methyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyphenyl maleimide) (P(MMA-co-HMI)) copolymers was synthesized using freeradical polymerization reaction. Proton exchange membranes fuel cell(PEMFC) by dry-phase inversion method were fabricated using different concentrations of these copolymers and phosphotungstic acid (PWA) as an additive of the proton conductive agent.To identify and investigate were used FT-IR, IEC, Wu, SEM, TGA, DSC, and DTG and proton conductivity (Impedance Spectroscopy) methods. Results revealed applying (P(MMA-co-HMI)) and PWA significantly improved the proton conductivity of membrane (2.6×10−1 S.cm−1) due to improving the interaction between the functional groups of PWA (H3O+ ions, O atoms) and MMA-co-HMI copolymer (OH, C=O functional groups).

proton exchange; membranes; PEM Fuel cell; Copolymer; Phosphotungstic acid