Developing Highly Proton Conducting, Hydrolytically Stable Hydrocarbon Membranes Based on Sulfonated Poly-Phenylene-Sulfones

Poly-phenylene sulfones  constitute chemically and mechanically stable polymer backbones. Their extremely high inter-chain interactions allow for very high degrees of sulfonation (IEC) before reaching the solubility limit in water. High IECs lead to unique morphologies and ionic (protonic) and solvent (water) transport properties which may be exploited in fuel cells operating at high T and low degrees of humidification.

M. Schuster, K.-D. Kreuer, H. T. Andersen, and J. Maier 
Sulfonated Poly(phenylenesulfone) Polymers as Hydrolytically and Thermooxidatively Stable Proton Conducting Ionomers 
Macromolecules 40(3), 598–607 (2007). 
DOI: 10.1021/ma062324z

M. Schuster, C. C. de Araujo, V. Atanasov, H. T. Andersen, K.-D. Kreuer, and J. Maier 
Highly Sulfonated Poly(phenylene sulfone): Preparation and Stability Issues 
Macromolecules 42(8), 3129–3137 (2009). 
DOI: 10.1021/ma900333n

C. C. de Araujo, K. D. Kreuer, M. Schuster, G. Portale, H. Mendil-Jakani, G. Gebel, and J. Maier 
Poly(p-phenylene sulfone)s with high ion exchange capacity: ionomers with unique microstructural and transport features 
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 11(17), 3305–3312 (2009). 
DOI: 10.1039/b822069g

G. Titvinidze, K.-D. Kreuer, M. Schuster, C. C. de Araujo, J. P. Melchior, and W. H. Meyer 
Proton Conducting Phase-Separated Multiblock Copolymers with Sulfonated Poly (phenylene sulfone) Blocks for Electrochemical Applications: Preparation, Morphology, Hydration Behavior, and Transport 
Advanced Functional Materials 22(21), 4456–4470 (2012). 
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201200811

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