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Preparation and properties of sulfonated polybenzimidazole-polyimide block copolymers as electrolyte membranes

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Abstract

Sulfonated polybenzimidazole-polyimide block copolymers are synthesized through condensation polymerization at high temperature. The length of the polyimide chain is varied to give a series of block copolymers with various block lengths. The as-synthesized block polymers are used to prepare the corresponding membranes through the solvent evaporation method. The structure of the block copolymers is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Their mechanical strength, thermal behavior, water uptake, swelling ratio, and proton conductivity, as well as oxidative stability are also investigated. All the block copolymers exhibit good thermal stability, dimensional stability, mechanical strength, and proton conductivity. Compared to the random sulfonated polyimide-containing benzimidazole membranes with the same degree of sulfonation, the membranes prepared from the block copolymers show higher proton conductivities. The proton conductivities of the block copolymer membranes range from 6.2 × 10−4 to 1.1 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 105 °C. The block copolymer membrane doped with phosphoric acid exhibits proton conductivity higher than 0.2 S cm−1 at 160 °C, indicating its potential applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells operated under high temperature and low humidity conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The project is sponsored by National Science Foundation of China (51303134, 51173134).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of polymer materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804, China

    Haiyan Pan, Shixiong Chen, Ming **, Zhihong Chang & Hongting Pu

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  1. Haiyan Pan
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Correspondence to Haiyan Pan or Zhihong Chang.

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Pan, H., Chen, S., **, M. et al. Preparation and properties of sulfonated polybenzimidazole-polyimide block copolymers as electrolyte membranes. Ionics 24, 1629–1638 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-017-2341-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-017-2341-1

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