Of different separation polymers, the most advanced one, ionomer, is attracting widespread interest in fields such as proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC), electrodialysis, electrolysis, diffusion dialysis, batteries, and sensing materials, biomedical and analytical chemistry. Moreover, the morphology, mechanical properties, transport properties, and phase behaviors, and degradation of ionomer are attracting widespread interest. To improve characteristics of ionomers, several casting solvents, temperature and processing methods are selected to test the performance of poly[t-butyl styrene-b-hydrogenated isoprene-b-sulfonated styrene-b-hydrogenated isoprene-b-t-butyl styrene), (tBS-HI-S-HI-tBS), Penta Block Copolymer (PBC) as shown in   using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) in  ), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and proton conductivity measurement. Considering solubility parameters of polymer solutions and the interaction between ionomer chains and solvent molecules, the growth of different morphological micro-structure has a great impact on the distribution of functional groups and transport properties of water and ions. A more comprehensive ionomer cast information system is set up to manufacture better performance ionomers with higher proton conductivity used in the fuel cell industry, appropriate swelling properties focused on electrodialysis desalination process, and neutralized cations investigated in the batteries research area and so on. Furthermore, the bridge between casting process and properties of ionomers and the network within micro and macro-scale properties are built to investigate wide ranging influence of casting process.

Morphology, thermodynamics, and transport properties of solution-cast Penta block copolymers

247th National Meeting (2014)

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