The Preparation of Metal–Organic‐Framework/Boron Phosphate Hybrid Materials for Improved Performances in Proton Exchange Membranes

Abstract

AbstractNew types of metal–organic framework based hybrid materials are designed and prepared, which involving the hybridization of various content of boron phosphate (BPO4) with the precursor of HKUST‐1. The structure of obtained HKUST‐1/BPO4 hybrid materials (HB) is fully investigated, and then applied to construct sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) based proton exchange membranes (SPEEK/HB). Owing to effective interactions between hybrid materials and SPEEK matrix, the achieved composite membranes reflect a considerable improvement in mechanical and thermal stability, oxidative stability, methanol permeation, and proton conductivity. In particular, the tensile strength of SPEEK/HB‐20 composite membrane is 41.3 MPa, which is 1.5 times higher than pristine SPEEK, and the methanol permeability reduced to one‐third of SPEEK at the same time. The SPEEK/HB‐10 displays the highest proton conductivity of 37.4 mS cm−1 at 80 °C, which is obviously higher than pristine SPEEK. These results reveal that the hybridization of HKUST‐1 with BPO4 provide a promising candidate in the modification of proton exchange membranes (PEMs), and this strategy also possess great application potential in other types of MOFs‐based hybrid materials.