Ion exchange membranes based upon crosslinked sulfonated polyethersulfone for electrochemical applications

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of new ion exchange membranes made from chlorosulfonated polyethersulfone (SO 2 Cl-PES) crosslinked by polyaminated crosslinking reagents have been performed. Two examples are described: one crosslinked by hexane diamine, the other by amino-polyethersulfone (NH 2-PES). Sulfonated polyether sulfone (S-PES) and NH 2-PES have similar chemical structures that allow compatibility. Surprisingly enough, better results were obtained using amino-polyethersulfone. The best results have been obtained using SO 2 Cl-PES with 1.3 SO 2 Cl group per monomer unit crosslinked by 0.2 equivalent of NH 2-PES. The membranes, less brittle than pristine SPES and insoluble in solvents such as DMAc, were characterized by TGA, DMA, DSC, ionic conductivity, transport numbers, and water swelling. The results showed that these membranes presented very promising performances for use in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

Fabrication of Sulfonated Poly (ether ether ketone)/Sulfonated Fully Aromatic Polyamide Composite Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs)

“…[1,3] However, they still suffer from the high cost problem mainly caused by the currently used perfluorinated sulfonic acid proton exchange membranes (represented by Nafion ® ). [6,7] Therefore, non-fluorinated acid ionomer membranes with low cost and environmentally friendliness advantages, such as poly (arylene ether ketone)(SPAEK), [8][9][10] sulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone)(SPAES), [11,12] sulfonated poly (benzimidazoles)(SPBI), [13][14][15] sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU), [16,17] sulfonated polyimide(SPI) [18][19][20] and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)(SPEEK), [21] have been widely investigated for substituting Nafion. [6,7] Therefore, non-fluorinated acid ionomer membranes with low cost and environmentally friendliness advantages, such as poly (arylene ether ketone)(SPAEK), [8][9][10] sulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone)(SPAES), [11,12] sulfonated poly (benzimidazoles)(SPBI), [13][14][15] sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU), [16,17] sulfonated polyimide(SPI) [18][19][20] and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)(SPEEK), [21] have been widely investigated for substituting Nafion.…”

Novel imidazole‐grafted hybrid anion exchange membranes based on poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) for fuel cell applications

“…2 The use of fuel cells in a variety of power generations is due to its efficient energy conversion, low pollution levels, noise, and maintenance costs. 4,5 The Nafion membrane in PEMFC has the advantages of high proton conductivity, good chemical stability, and high mechanical strength, 6,7 so that it can be developed rapidly. 4,5 The Nafion membrane in PEMFC has the advantages of high proton conductivity, good chemical stability, and high mechanical strength, 6,7 so that it can be developed rapidly.…”

Hybrid nanocomposite membranes of sulfonated poly(ethersulfone)/1,1-carbonyl diimidazole/1-(3-aminopropyl)-silane/silica for direct methanol fuel cells

“…They are both cheap and easy to synthesize and produce. They have also high chemical and mechanical resistance and excellent thermal stability [18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. To increase conductivity in such polymers, ionomeric groups like sulfonic acid groups are attached to aromatic polymers through sulfonation method [25,26].…”