Molecular weight controlled sulfonated Poly(Arylene Ether)s and sulfonated Poly(Ether Ether ketone) polymer blends for fuel cell applications

Abstract

We synthesized molecular weight-controlled and fluorine-containing PAEs (MWCPAEs) using decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP), 2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (Bis A), and 2,2-Bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (Bis AF). Later, commercially available PEEK and the MWCPAEs were sulfonated (SPEEK and SMWCPAE) and blended to fabricate blend membranes (BMs). All BMs have been prepared by solution casting method in 5 wt%-20 wt% concentrations using N,N-dimethylacetamide. The effects of chemical structures, sulfonation levels, MW and compositions on the membrane properties are discussed. We obtained miscible and mechanically compatible BMs. The highest proton conductivity (238.9 mS/cm) was determined for SPEEK70/S-DFBP-Bis-A based blend membrane (Mw: 48.355, 5wt. %). All chemical, mechanical, thermal, and hydrolytic properties of the BMs are comparable with, or better than, that of Nafion. We suggest that designing polymeric structures with desired MWs and sulfonation levels may enable enhanced properties and can help to design materials with on demand properties.