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DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1078682
Self-Standing Proton-Conducting Polymer Membrane
Contributor(s):Timothy M. Swager, Jeewoo LimPublication History
Publication Date:
22 August 2008 (online)
Key words
block copolymers - fluoropolymers - ion exchangers
Significance
Robust polymer films capable of conducting protons have potential for utilization in applications such as fuel cells. The authors report novel block copolymers containing various ratios of pendant perfluorobenzene moiety for thermal stability, 1-methylsilacyclobutyl group for cross-linking, and sulfonic acid for proton conduction. The polymers display high ion-exchange capacity and proton conductivities similar to that of Nafion 117.
Comment
The ion exchange capacities and proton conductivities of the block copolymers depend on the ratio between PFS-co-SBS and SSPen (m:n ratio). With m:n = 110:31, the authors observed a very low ion-exchange capacity (0.016 mmol/g) and proton conductivity (less than 10-6 S/cm). When the ration was changed to m:n = 129:172, the ion-exchange capacity was raised nearly hundered-fold to 1.51 mmol/g and proton conductivity more than 10,000-fold to 1.5 × 10-² S/cm.