Enhancing the Wettability of Polyetheretherketone (Peek) Membrane with Ozone for Improving Fuel Cell Performance

Ozone was reacted with the aromatic membrane polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to form oxidized functional groups on surface enhance attraction and transport of protons in fuel cells. Ozonation unsaturated C-C sp<sup>2</sup> bonds PEEK formed a primary ozonide which dissociated primarily produce O=C-O/O=C-OH moieties, root mean squared roughness factor (R<sub>q</sub>) decreased from 7.4 nm, for untreated sample, down 3.1 nm. The oxidation decrease made increase hydrophilicity as observed by water contact angle (CA) 80.3° 21.7°. Washing treated solvent O at % indicating formation weak boundary layer because bond breakage during decomposition ozonide.