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Anhydrous proton‐conducting electrolyte based on a nematic poly(methyl acrylate) containing sulfonated side chains
Author(s) -
Liang Ting,
Wu Yong,
Tan Shuai,
Wang Caihong
Publication year - 2014
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.40382
Subject(s) - liquid crystal , side chain , anhydrous , materials science , mesophase , polymer chemistry , polymer , methyl acrylate , differential scanning calorimetry , dielectric spectroscopy , electrolyte , acrylate , acrylate polymer , chemistry , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , copolymer , physics , optoelectronics , electrode , composite material , thermodynamics
A nematic poly(methyl acrylate) containing terminal sulfonic acids in side chains was prepared by etherification of a brominated mesomorphic precursor with 2‐hydroxyethanesulfonic acid sodium salt. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements and polarized light microscopy observation revealed that the sulfonated polymer exhibited the nematic mesophase at medium temperatures (189–227°C). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements showed that temperature dependence of anhydrous proton conductivity for the nematic polymer followed the Arrhenius law and that the estimated activation energy was 95 kJ mol −1 in the nematic phase. The proton conductivities of the nematic polymer were two orders of magnitude higher than those of anhydrous Nafion®117 membrane at the same temperature. The enhanced anhydrous proton conductivities of the polymeric electrolyte were ascribed to the orientational order and fluidity of the nematic liquid crystal. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40382.