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Reinforced Polymer Blend Membranes with Liposome‐Like Morphology for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells Operating under Low‐Humidity Conditions
Author(s) -
Lee So Young,
Park Chi Hoon,
Chae Ji Eon,
Lee Seungju,
Lee Hye-Jin,
Yoo Sung Jong,
Kim Jin Young,
Jang Jong Hyun,
Kim Hyoung-Juhn
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.202001174
Subject(s) - membrane , materials science , polymer , chemical engineering , ether , polymer chemistry , sulfone , electrolyte , nafion , arylene , sulfonic acid , miscibility , synthetic membrane , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , electrochemistry , alkyl , biochemistry , aryl , electrode , engineering
Reinforced polymer blend membranes with liposome‐like morphology prepared for applications in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells from a sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (BPSH), a hydroxylated poly(ether sulfone), and a hydroxylated sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) as a compatibilizer are characterized both experimentally and theoretically (by mesoscale and molecular dynamics simulations). Compared with those prepared from pristine BPSH, blend membranes exhibit improved mechanical strength, lower water uptake, and better dimensional stability, which is ascribed to the presence of hydroxylated polymers and the resulting hydrogen bonding between polymer chains. The blend membranes also show unusual morphologies; e.g., the 60‐811 membrane exhibits a unique nanoscale phase‐separated morphology similar to that of a liposome, featuring hydrophilic spherical ionic clusters (0.5 μm) with the small ionic domains of 15–20 nm at their cores. Hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups and sulfonic acid groups in this membrane results in enhanced water retention capability, high proton conductivity, and excellent single‐cell performance superior to that of Nafion 212 under the conditions of both full and insufficient hydration.