Abstract

Highly sulfonated polyarylenethioethersulfone copolymer (SPTES 70) with excellent thermal stability, high proton conductivity and good mechanical properties is an excellent candidate as high temperature fuel cells membrane. The morphology of the SPTES 70 was examined with in situ vapor small angle neutron scattering (iVSANS), and transmission electron microscopy. An experimental neutron contrast match point was obtained with swelling SPTES 70 in a series of D2O/H2O ratios and compared with the calculated scattering contrast. The calculated scattering length density of SPTES 70 was in excellent agreement with the experiment scattering length density. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) data of the magnesium, calcium, and silver exchanged hydrated SPTES 70 membranes exhibited nanostructured morphology which was compared with the reported nanostructure of D2O hydrated SPTES 70. SANS data showed that the average ionic domain size changes with the size and valence of the counter ion.

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