Preparation and Morphological characterization of novel sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s for potential application in fuel cell membrane

Novel poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (PESs) were prepared using direct copolymerization of 3,3 -disulfonated- 4,4 -diflorodiphenyl sulfone as synthesized sulfonated dihalide in companion with 4,4 -diflorodiphenyl sulfone as nonsulfonated dihalide monomer with hydroquinone and 4,4 -(4,4 - sulfonylbis-(1,4-phenylene)bis(oxy)) (SPHD ) diphenol as diol. Copolymers were synthesized with controlled degrees of sulfonation. The morphology of PESs membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. Based on obtained results, microphase separation occurred in both groups, although in PES-SPHD membranes because of larger hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments length, better microphase separation was happened. The proton conductivities of membranes were increased by increasing the degree of sulfonation and reached to 0.08 S/cm.

Keywords:

Poly(arylene ether sulfone) , diphenol , Fuel cell membrane , Morphology