Highly Interconnected Proton Transport Channels of Poly(ether sulfone)-b-Poly(styrenesulfonic acid) Multiblock Copolymer for Proton Exchange Membranes AITranslate

Basic Information:

DOI：https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c01263

Chinese Library Classification Number:

Citation Information:

Multiblock copolymers of poly(ether sulfone)-b-poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PES-b-PSSA) are synthesized as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cell applications. A synthetic ratio between hydrophobic PES and hydrophilic PSSA blocks is carefully controlled to enhance the membrane properties, such as a high ion exchange capacity and water absorption with stable swelling behaviors. The membrane (X13Y22) with a ratio of 13 and 22 for PES(X) and PSSA(Y), respectively, achieves the highest proton conductivity of 3.306 S cm–1 at 100% relative humidity (RH) condition. Moreover, the developed nanostructure by phase separation of X13Y22 allows the increased proton hopping through the highly interconnected sulfonated ionic clusters, resulting in enhanced proton conduction of 0.397 and 0.112 S cm–1 at 50% and 30% RH conditions, respectively. The controlled nanostructures of the membranes are investigated by atomic force microscopy, transmittance electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering.