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Sulfophenylated Terphenylene Copolymer Membranes and Ionomers
Author(s) -
Skalski Thomas J. G.,
Adamski Michael,
Britton Benjamin,
Schibli Eric M.,
Peckham Timothy J.,
Weissbach Thomas,
Moshisuki Takashi,
Lyonnard Sandrine,
Frisken Barbara J.,
Holdcroft Steven
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201801965
Subject(s) - copolymer , membrane , polymer , electrolyte , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , monomer , polymer chemistry , membrane electrode assembly , materials science , chemical engineering , ionomer , electrochemistry , chemistry , electrode , composite material , biochemistry , engineering
The copolymerization of a prefunctionalized, tetrasulfonated oligophenylene monomer was investigated. The corresponding physical and electrochemical properties of the polymers were tuned by varying the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic units within the polymers. Membranes prepared from these polymers possessed ion exchange capacities ranging from 1.86 to 3.50 meq g −1 and exhibited proton conductivities of up to 338 mS cm −1 (80 °C, 95 % relative humidity). Small‐angle X‐ray scattering and small‐angle neutron scattering were used to elucidate the effect of the monomer ratios on the polymer morphology. The utility of these materials as low gas crossover, highly conductive membranes was demonstrated in fuel cell devices. Gas crossover currents through the membranes of as low as 4 % (0.16±0.03 mA cm −2 ) for a perfluorosulfonic acid reference membrane were demonstrated. As ionomers in the catalyst layer, the copolymers yielded highly active porous electrodes and overcame kinetic losses typically observed for hydrocarbon‐based catalyst layers. Fully hydrocarbon, nonfluorous, solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells are demonstrated with peak power densities of 770 mW cm −2 with oxygen and 456 mW cm −2 with air.