Abstract
A fluorinated-sulfonated, hydrophobic-hydrophilic copolymer was planed subsequently synthesized using typical nucleophilic substitution polycondensation reaction. A novel AB and ABA (or BAB) block copolymers were synthesized using sBCPSBP (sulfonated 4,4'-bis[4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]-1,1'-biphenyl), DHN (1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene), DFBP (decafluorobiphenyl) and HFIP (4,4'-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphenol). All block copolymers were easily cast and made into clear films. The structure and synthesized copolymers and corresponding membranes were analyzed using GPC (gel permeation chromatography), <TEX>$^1H$</TEX>-NMR (<TEX>$^1H$</TEX> nuclear magnetic resonance) and FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared). TGA (Thermogravimetric analysis) and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analysis showed that the prepared membranes were thermally stable, so that elevated temperature fuel cell operation would be possible. Hydrophobic/hydrophilic phase separation and clear ionic aggregate block morpology was confirmed in both triblock and diblock copolymer in AFM (atomic force microscopy), which may be highly related to their proton transport ability. A sulfonated BAB triblock copolymer membrane with an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.6 meq/g has a maximum ion conductivity of 40.3 mS/cm at <TEX>$90^{\circ}C$</TEX> and 100% relative humidity.
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