Durable Sulfonated Poly(benzothiazole-co-benzimidazole) Proton Exchange Membranes

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• 作者：Gang Wang ; Kang Hyuck Lee ; Won Hyo Lee ; Dong Won Shin ; Na Rae Kang ; Doo Hee Cho ; Doo Sung Hwang ; Yongbing Zhuang ; Young Moo Lee ; Michael D. Guiver
• 刊名：Macromolecules
• 出版年：2014
• 出版时间：September 23, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：47
• 期：18
• 页码：6355-6364
• 全文大小：677K
• ISSN：1520-5835

文摘

Two series of random sulfonated poly(benzothiazole-co-benzimidazole) polymers (sPBT-BI) with 70% and 60% degree of sulfonation were evaluated as proton exchange membranes. sPBT was also prepared for a comparative study. The mechanical properties of sPBT-BI were greatly enhanced by incorporation of benzimidazole (BI); sPBT-BI70-10 showed a tensile strength of 125 MPa and elongation at break of 38.9%, an increase of 56.5% and 145%, respectively, compared with sPBT. The solubility, dimensional stability, thermal properties, and oxidative stability of sPBT-BI were also improved. The ionic clusters of sPBT-BI membranes in both AFM phase images and TEM images became narrower with increasing amounts of BI while containing the same molar amount of sulfonic acid groups. This resulted in lower dimensional swelling and higher mechanical strength, but the proton conductivity decreased. However, high proton conductivity was achieved by incorporating an appropriate content of BI. PEMFC H₂/air single cell performances and durabilities were improved by incorporation of 5% of BI units in sPBT.