Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
05:33
Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
Published on: August 12, 2013
Graft-crosslinked copolymers based on poly(arylene ether ketone)-gc-sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) for PEMFC
Xuan Zhang1, Zhaoxia Hu, Linqiang Luo
1School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|June 15, 2011
Summary
Novel graft-crosslinked membranes exhibit promising fuel cell performance. These polymer electrolyte membranes show good dimensional stability and high proton conductivity, making them suitable for fuel cell applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Developing advanced polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) is crucial for efficient fuel cell operation.
- Existing PEMs often face challenges with dimensional stability and proton conductivity under varying humidity levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel graft-crosslinked membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).
- To evaluate the morphological, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of these new membranes.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of poly(arylene ether ketone) polymers and sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) oligomers.
- Preparation of graft-crosslinked membranes via Ni(0)-catalyzed and nucleophilic polymerization.
- Characterization using (1)H NMR, tapping-mode AFM, water uptake, dimensional change, and proton conductivity measurements.
Main Results:
- AFM revealed a distinct nanoscale phase-separated microstructure in the membranes.
- The membranes demonstrated good dimensional stability and proton conductivity across a relative humidity range of 30-90%.
- Anisotropic proton conductivity ratios ranged from 0.65-0.92 and increased with hydrophilic block length.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized graft-crosslinked membranes show potential as effective polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells.
- The tailored hydrophilic and crosslinking units contribute to desirable membrane properties.
- These membranes represent a promising advancement in materials for energy applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters
The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
01:16Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...