Abstract
A series of side-chain-type sulfonated polyimides (SPIs) were synthesized from 4,4′-ketone dinaphthalene-1,1′,8,8′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (KDNTDA), 2,2′-(4-sulfophenoxy) benzidine, and nonsulfonated diamines. The SPIs showed anisotropic membrane swelling in water with 2–4 times larger swelling in thickness direction than that in plane one, being much different from SPIs derived from 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride. They exhibited good solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone even in proton form, which is favorable for processing in fuel cell applications. KDNTDA-based SPIs displayed good mechanical properties with reduced viscosities ranged from 1.1 to 2.4 dl g−1 at 35 °C in triethylamine salt form. They also showed reasonably high proton conductivity and thermal stability.
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