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Title: Enhanced proton conductivity and dimensional stability of proton exchange membrane based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and graphene oxide

Journal Article · · Materials Research Bulletin
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  1. Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China)
  2. State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620 (China)

Highlights: • Proton conductivity of SPAES-GO-x membranes enhanced with increasing GO content. • Incorporating GO into SPAES matrix restrained SPAES-GO-x membranes swelling. • GO promoted the sulfonic acid groups of SPAES molecular chain aggregation (big ionic clusters) to enhance proton transport. - Abstract: A series composited membranes of sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and graphene oxide (SPAES-GO-x) have been exploited as proton exchange membrane. The properties of SPAES-GO-x membranes were evaluated including proton conductivity, water uptake, swelling ratio, oxide and thermal stability. Incorporating GO into SPAES matrix restrained the composite membranes swelling and enhanced their proton conductivity. The SPAES-GO-3% membrane showed a conductivity value of 0.183 S cm{sup −1} at 120 °C and relative humidity 100%. Compared with the pristine SPAES membrane, the swelling ratio of SPAES-GO-2% membrane was reduced by 55.7% at 90 °C. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) revealed GO promoted SPAES molecular chain movement to form bigger ionic clusters in favor of enhancing proton transport. X-Ray Diffraction and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (XRD and FE-SEM) analysis further demonstrated GO was exfoliated and distributed throughout the SPAES matrix. These results indicated GO was an effective filler to trade off proton conductivity and swelling of composite membrane.

OSTI ID:
22804036
Journal Information:
Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 103; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English