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Proton conducting crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes based on SBS block copolymer
Author(s) -
Roh Dong Kyu,
Koh Jong Kwan,
Chi Won Seok,
Shul Yong Gun,
Kim Jong Hak
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.33937
Subject(s) - membrane , copolymer , small angle x ray scattering , materials science , polymer chemistry , thermal stability , polymer , monomer , methacrylate , electrolyte , chemical engineering , styrene , thermogravimetric analysis , ionomer , scattering , composite material , chemistry , optics , biochemistry , physics , electrode , engineering
A series of crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes with controlled structures were prepared based on poly(styrene‐ b ‐butadiene‐ b ‐styrene) (SBS) triblock copolymer and a sulfonated monomer, 2‐sulfoethyl methacrylate (SEMA). SBS membranes were thermally crosslinked with SEMA in the presence of a thermal‐initiator, 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanovaleric acid) (ACVA), as confirmed by FT‐IR spectroscopy. The water uptake and ion exchange capacity (IEC) of membranes increased almost linearly with SEMA concentrations due to the increase of SO 3 −groups. However, the proton conductivity of membranes increased linearly up to 33 wt % of SEMA, above which it abruptly jumped to 0.04 S/cm presumably due to the formation of well‐developed proton channels. Microphase‐separated morphology and amorphous structures of crosslinked SBS/SEMA membranes were observed using wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The membranes exhibited good mechanical properties and high thermal stability up to 250°C, as determined by a universal testing machine (UTM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011