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Synthetic Strategies for Controlling the Morphology of Proton Conducting Polymer Membranes
Author(s) -
Yang Y.,
Holdcroft S.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200400058
Subject(s) - membrane , polymer , ionic bonding , materials science , copolymer , proton , chemical engineering , nanostructure , monomer , phase (matter) , ionic conductivity , polymer architecture , electrolyte , conductivity , nanoscopic scale , nanotechnology , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , ion , chemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , composite material , physics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering
The nanostructure and morphology of proton conducting polymers is of considerable interest in the search for next generation materials and optimization of existing ones. Synthetic methodologies for tailoring molecular structures that promote nanoscopic phase separation of ionic and non‐ionic domains, and the effect of phase separation on parameters such as proton conductivity, are considered. Rather than distinguish proton conducting polymers according to chemical class, they are categorized under sub‐headings of random, block, and graft copolymers. The synthetic methodology available to access archetypal polymer structures is dependent on the nature of the monomers and restrictive compared to conventional non‐ionic polymer systems. Irrespective of the methodology, ionic aggregation and phase separation are consistently found to play an important role in the proton conductivity of low ion exchange capacity ( IEC ) membranes, but less of a role in high IEC membranes. Significant research is required to further develop relationships between polymer architecture, morphology, and electrolytic properties.