Synthesis of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) block copolymers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Kwangjin Oh, Kriangsak Ketpang, Hasuck Kim, Sangaraju Shanmugam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) (SPAEK) block copolymers were synthesized through nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization. Compared with a Nafion (NRE-212), state-of-the-art proton conducting membrane, the block copolymer membrane showed a well separated phase morphology and high proton conductivity under fully hydrated condition at 80 °C. The fuel cell operated with a SPAEK membrane showed a current density of 1617 mA cm-2 at 0.6 V under 100% relative humidity (RH), whereas a NRE-212 membrane exhibited a current density of 1238 mA cm-2, which is about 30% lower than newly prepared SPEAK membrane. In addition, the maximum power density of 1160, and 800 mW cm-2 was observed for SPAEK, NRE-212 membranes, respectively at 80 °C under 100% RH condition. The SPEAK membrane exhibited 1.4-folds enhancement in the maximum power density in comparison with NRE-212 membrane.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-142
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume507
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Block copolymers
  • Membrane
  • Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
  • Proton conductivity
  • Sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone)

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