Files and links (1)
SubmittedOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Proton Conducting Sulfonated Poly(Ionic Liquid) Block Copolymers
Macromolecules, v 55(15), pp 6716-6729
09 Aug 2022
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Herein, we report the synthesis of proton-conducting sulfonated poly(ionic liquid) block copolymers (S-PILBCPs) containing one block with sulfonic acid (sulfonated styrene, SS) and the other with an IL moiety (vinylbenzylmethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, VBMIm-TFSI) using reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization and post-polymerization modifications (i.e., functionalization, anion exchange reactions, and sulfonation). The S-PILBCPs uniquely conjoin the SS block with mobile protons (H+) and the PIL block with mobile anions (TFSI–), where multiple highly desired properties, including high proton conductivity (from the SS block), and high IL-philicity and oxygen solubility (from the PIL block) can exist compartmentally within a microphase separated morphology (evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)). High ion conductivity of 79.7 mS/cm at a PIL block composition of 21.6 mol % was observed at 80 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) (comparable to the benchmark Nafion ionomer). This work successfully demonstrates the design of S-PILBCPs as a new material platform and showcases its promise as an ionomer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as they simultaneously and compartmentally combine proton conductivity and oxygen solubility. These benefits have recently been leveraged to achieve substantial improvement in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and subsequently fuel cell performance.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Proton Conducting Sulfonated Poly(Ionic Liquid) Block Copolymers
- Creators
- Rui Sun - Texas A&M UniversityMahesh Agrawal - Texas A&M UniversityKenneth C. Neyerlin - National Renewable Energy LaboratoryJoshua D. Snyder - Drexel UniversityYossef A. Elabd - Texas A&M University
- Publication Details
- Macromolecules, v 55(15), pp 6716-6729
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society; Washington, DC
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000831538000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85136406140
- Other Identifier
- 991019168231004721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Polymer Science