Sulfonated poly(arylene ether)s with high content of phosphine oxide moieties for proton exchange membranes

A novel proton exchange membrane derived from trisulfonated poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide) containing diphenyl ether moieties

A series of novel trisulfonated phosphine oxide polymers (tsPEPO-x) with different sulfonation degrees were prepared by intermolecular polymerization of trisulfonated phosphine monomer and 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ether. The properties of these membranes were investigated in detail. The results showed that these membranes, especially those with high sulfonation degree, exhibited excellent overall performance. For example, the conductivity of tsPEPO-120 membrane reaches 0.093 S cm−1 at 80°C, which is higher than that (0.087 S cm−1) of Nafion 117. At the same time, the swelling rate is almost equivalent to that (20%) of Nafion 117. Moreover, the membrane also has good oxidation resistance in Fenton’s reagent. The obtained polymers showed good properties. The trisulfonated moieties and diphenyl ether simultaneously played important roles in improving the properties of the polymer.

Hexafluoroisopropylidene based sulfonated new copolytriazoles: investigation of proton exchange membrane properties

A series of novel sulfonated polytriazole copolymers (PTFOSH-XX) was successfully prepared by the click reaction of 4,4′-(perfluoropropane-2,2-diyl)bis((prop-2-ynyloxy)benzene (TF), 4,4′-diazido-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid disodium salt (SAZ) and 4,4′-diazidodiphenyl ether (OAZ). The copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The copolymers showed high mechanical, thermal and oxidative stability and low swelling. The phase separated morphology of the membranes was confirmed from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The membranes showed proton conductivity as high as 110 and 122 mS cm−1 at 80 and 90°C, respectively depending on the polymer repeat unit structure.

Sulfonated poly(arylene thioether phosphine oxide)s (sPTPO) and sPTPO/sulfonated polybenzothiazole blends as proton exchange membranes

Blends of sulfonated poly(arylene thioether phosphine oxide)s and sulfonated polybenzothiazoles exhibited excellent overall properties as proton exchange membranes.