A hydroquinone based hydrophilic block poly (arylene ether sulfone) (HQS100) was synthesized and coupled with different hydrophobic blocks to form a hydrophilic-hydrophobic block copolymer. The block copolymers with hydroquinone based hydrophilic blocks coupled with various hydrophobic block showed higher proton conductivity as compared to the biphenol based block copolymers and better performance under reduced relative humidity conditions. Structures of the block copolymers were confirmed by using 1H and 13C NMR to ensure the ether-ether interchange side reactions were minimized and the desired product was acquired. In addition water uptake, swelling ratio, thermal stability, and intrinsic viscosity of the membranes were measured and compared against that of Nafion 212 and biphenol based block copolymers. The synthesis and characterization of these materials will be discussed.

Hydroquinone based hydrophilic-hydrophobic block copolymers for protein exchange membranes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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