Blends of sulfonated polysulfone and poly(ethylene oxide)-grafted-polyethersulfone as proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

摘要

Blends composed of sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) and poly(ethylene oxide)-grafted-polyethersulfone (PEO-g-PES) in different compositions have been prepared and studied in terms of fuel cell relevant parameters like thermal behaviour, water uptake and ionic conductivity. Moreover, spectroscopic characterization (FT-IR) has also been conducted in order to elucidate their miscibility and to investigate the influence of polymer blending on the crystallinity level of the individual components. These blends exhibit very good mechanical properties, a very high water uptake and a high ionic conductivity (4 x 10(-3) S/cm) at ambient temperatures and they are amorphous, a property that facilitates their use as polymer electrolytes in fuel cells.