Issue 8, 2018

A thermally crosslinked multiblock sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone nitrile) copolymer with a 1,2,3-triazole pendant for proton conducting membranes

Abstract

A novel concept for the molecular design of a proton conducting membrane is proposed; this concept simultaneously implements strategies involving multiblock, thermally induced rearrangement and acid–base interaction. The complete synthesis involves oligomeric polycondensation, followed by the introduction of a 1,2,3-triazole side-chain via a click reaction, sulfonation and intermolecular dimerization, to generate a mechanically robust and chemically stable polymer membrane. The results of characterization demonstrate significant microphase separation of the crosslinked membrane due to morphological transformation, and that the presence of a large amount of weak-base pendants contributes to the enhancement of ion conductivity over the entire relative humidity range (30–95%). Moreover, it also generates power outputs as high as 1.07, 0.87 and 0.48 W cm−2 at 80 °C under 95%, 70% and 30% relative humidity conditions, respectively, which significantly improve the fuel cell performance by 34–40%, compared to the virgin membrane. In general, the results of this study suggest new synthetic pathways for high-performance ion-exchange membranes.

Graphical abstract: A thermally crosslinked multiblock sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone nitrile) copolymer with a 1,2,3-triazole pendant for proton conducting membranes

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Nov 2017
Accepted
22 Jan 2018
First published
22 Jan 2018

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 3560-3570

A thermally crosslinked multiblock sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone nitrile) copolymer with a 1,2,3-triazole pendant for proton conducting membranes

H. Hu, T. Dong, Y. Sui, N. Li, M. Ueda, L. Wang and X. Zhang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 3560 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA10290A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements