Terminally-crosslinked poly(ether sulfone) block copolymer, as a highly selective and stable polymer electrolyte membrane for DMFC applications

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 38; no. 12; pp. 5084 - 5091
• Main Authors: Thankamony, Roshni Lilly, Won, Mihee, Kim, Tae-Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 22.04.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Direct methanol fuel cell; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Methanol crossover; Proton selectivity; Terminally-crosslinked polymer; Proton selectivity; Direct methanol fuel cell; Methanol crossover; Terminally-crosslinked polymer; Polymer electrolytes; Hydrogen; Membrane; Fuel cell; Methanol
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.02.036

The terminally-crosslinked sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) block copolymer (SPES-b) was developed for use as a proton exchange membrane in DMFC applications. The properties of the membrane prepared from SPES-b were compared with those of its non-crosslinked counterpart (SPES-bn) and Nafion®-117. The membrane displayed a well-defined morphology due to phase separation between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic ionic units in the SPES-b block copolymer. The terminally-crosslinked SPES-b membrane yielded a high proton conductivity of 0.09 S/cm and a low methanol permeability of 5.3 × 10−8 cm2/s at 20 °C, and the membrane displayed excellent dimensional, mechanical, hydrolytic, and oxidative stabilities. [Display omitted] ► Terminally-crosslinked sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) was prepared. ► High conductivity with low methanol permeability was obtained. ► Dimensional, mechanical, and oxidative stabilities were achieved.