Polymer composite membrane and method of making the same

A method of making a polymer composite membrane, the method comprising:

• providing a perfluorosulfonic polymer member;
• subject the perfluorosulfonic polymer member to a furan-based monomer including furfuryl alcohol and furfuryl alcohol derivatives;
• and
• polymerizing the furan-based monomer to obtain a polymer composite membrane having from about 2% to 12.4% polyfurfuryl alcohol content;
• whereby the polymer composite membrane formed is capable of selectively conducting ions to increase proton conductivity and reducing methanol permeability.

A method of making a fuel cell membrane, comprising:

• providing a perfluorosulfonic polymer member;
• subjecting the perfluorosulfonic polymer member to a furan-based monomer including furfuryl alcohol and furfuryl alcohol derivatives;
• and
• polymerizing the furan-based monomer to obtain a polymer composite membrane having a polyfurfuryl alcohol content of 8%;
• whereby the polymer composite membrane formed has a high proton conductivity and reduced methanol permeability.