Polycyclobutenes containing pendant proton conducting triazole rings (polyCBTz) or methyl-terminated polyethylene glycol (polyMPEGCBTz) were synthesized via ROMP with PDIs below 1.3. The �living� nature of the CBTz polymerization with Grubbs's 2nd generation catalysts was confirmed by kinetic studies. PolyCBTz, had a Tg of 10 �C  was stable up to 180 �C  and showed proton conductivities higher or comparable to those of analogous triazole functionalized polysiloxanes. Block copolymers, polyMPEGCBTz-b-polyCBTZ, and polyCBTz-b-polyNB were synthesized by sequential addition of the corresponding monomers. The composition of the block copolymers was determined by 1H-NMR. In order to increase the thermal and chemical stability of these materials, backbone hydrogenation was done using Pd/iron oxide nano catalysts (5mm<) with a hydrogen pressure of 110psi for 15mins. Initial results from studies focused on generating self-assembled morphologies with well-interconnected proton transporting domains will be discussed.

Synthesis via ROMP of triazole bearing polycyclobutene diblock copolymers as water-free proton conducting membranes for PEM fuel cells

245th National Meeting (2013)

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