Dually cross-linked polymer electrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract

End-group crosslinkable sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymer (ESPAES) and imidazolium poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymer (IPAES) are synthesized as a proton exchange membrane and ionic crosslinker, respectively. A novel dually cross-linked membrane (DCM) based on ESPAES is similar to an inter-penetrating network and is prepared via blending IPAES and thermal treatment for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. The synergistic effects of end-group crosslinking and ionic crosslinking improve chemical and thermal stability and mechanical properties. In addition, the DMFC performance of the DCM outperforms that of the end-group cross-linked SPAES and Nafion (R) 212 due to its excellent fuel barrier property in spite of relatively low proton conductivity, which is derived from the content of the non-proton conducting IPAES copolymer. Consequently, the DCM has great potential as an electrolyte membrane for DMFC applications.