Organic-Inorganic Nano Composite Membranes of Sulfonated Poly(ether Sulfone-Ketone) Copolymer and SiO₂ for Fuel Cell Application

Novel bisphenol-based wholly aromatic sulfonated poly(ether sulfone-ketone) copolymer and organic-inorganic composite membranes were prepared for operation 80°C in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFCs). The copolymer were synthesized by direct aromatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensation of 4,4-difluorobenzophenone, 2,2’-disodiumsulfonyl- 4,4’-fluorophenylsulfone (40mole% of bisphenol A) and bisphenol A. Polymerization proceeded quantitatively to high molecular weight in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone at 180°C. Organic-inorganic composite membranes were obtained by mixing organic polymers with hydrophilic SiO2 obtained by sol-gel process. The polymer and a series of composite membranes were studied by FT-IR, 1HNMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal stability. The proton conductivity as a function of temperature decreased as SiO2 content increased, but methanol permeability decreased. The nano composite membranes were found to poses all requisite properties; Ion exchange capacity (1.2meq./g), glass transition temperatures (164-183), and low affinity towards methanol (4.63-1.08x10-7 cm2/S).