Papers by Author: Dong Hoon Lee

Abstract: A series of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)s were prepared by condensation polymerization with bisphenol A and 1,2-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)-3,6-diphenylbenzene, and followed by sufonation with chlorosulfonic acid. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and ion exchange capacity (IEC) to verify sulfonation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out to investigate the thermal stability of the prepared membranes. The membranes were found to possess all the requisite properties; Ion exchange capacity (3.31meq./g), glass transition temperatures (207-230°C), and low affinity towards methanol (2.04x10-6-4.15x10-7 cm2/S).

Abstract: Branched sulfonated poly(ether sulfone-ketone) copolymer was prepared with bisphenol A, 4,4-difluorobenzophenone, sulfonated chlorophenyl sulfone (40mole% of bisphenol A) and THPE (1,1,1-tris-p-hydroxyphenylethane) as a branching agent. THPE was used 0.4 mol% of bisphenol A to synthesize branched copolymers. Organic-inorganic nano composite membranes were prepared with copolymer and a series of SiO2 nanoparticles (20 nm, 4, 7 and 10 wt%). The composite membranes were cast from dimethylsulfoxide solutions. The films were converted from the salt to acid forms with dilute hydrochloric acid. The membranes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Sorption experiments were conducted to observe the interaction of sulfonated polymers with water and methanol. Branched copolymer and nano composite membranes exhibited proton conductivities from 1.12x10-3 to 6.04x10-3 S/cm2, water uptake from 52.9 to 62.4%, IEC from 0.81 to 1.21 meq/g and methanol diffusion coefficients from 1.2x10-7 to 1.5x10-7 cm2/S.

Abstract: 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).