High performance direct methanol fuel cells based on acid–base blend membranes containing benzotriazole

Novel acid–base blend membranes consisting of acidic sulfophenylated poly(ether ether ketone ketone) (Ph-SPEEKK) and various amounts of basic polysulfone tethered with 5-amino-benzotriazole (PSf-BTraz) have been prepared and characterized. The blend membranes show higher proton conductivity and lower liquid uptake and dimensional swelling compared to plain Ph-SPEEKK and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes. The Ph-SPEEKK/PSf-BTraz blend membranes with optimized basic polymer contents exhibit lower methanol crossover and higher performance with improved stability in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) at various methanol concentrations (1–10 M) than plain Ph-SPEEK and Nafion-115 membranes.     

不同磺化度下的磺化聚醚醚酮对全钒储能液流电池性质影响的研究

本文报道了采用浓硫酸作为磺化剂,成功合成了不同磺化度下的聚醚醚酮(PEEK)膜,并深入研究了磺化条件包括磺化时间和磺化剂的用量对所获薄膜性能的影响,获得了在不同磺化度（DS）下SPPEK膜的离子交换容,含水率,机械性能,质子电导率等参数,特别测定了在全钒液流电池工作条件下钒离子(Ⅳ)渗透率,首次为该类液流储能电池使用价廉质优的质子交换膜提供了基础实验数据。室温条件下的实验结果如下：1）磺化12小时后,膜的磺化度46%,含水量为28%,钒离子(Ⅳ)选择性最佳（钒离子渗透率为1.2×10-7 cm2/min-1,是Nafion117 (2.9×10-6 cm2/min-1)的1/24）,其质子电导率只有0.02 S/cm;2）磺化96小时其磺化度达79%的膜,质子电导率达0.16 S/cm,是Nafion117 (0.10S/cm) 的1.6倍, 但其机械性能最差;3）与Nafion117膜相比,磺化在36到48小时的SPPEK膜其机械力学性能好,薄膜的钒离子渗透率、离子交换容IEC、质子导电率和含水率高,且对钒离子的选择性佳,尤其价格仅为Nafion膜的1/13,是理想的Nafion膜的代替物,可望直接应用于全钒氧化还原液流（VRB）电池中。本文还讨论了磺化时间和不同磺化剂量对膜的性质的影响。     

磺化侧苯基杂萘联苯聚醚酮酮的合成与性能

以4-(3-苯基-4-羟基苯基)-2,3-二氮杂萘-1-酮(DHPZ-P)、 4-(4-羟基苯基)-2,3-二氮杂萘-1-酮(DHPZ)和1,4-二(4'-氟苯甲酰基)苯(BFBB)为原料, 经溶液亲核取代缩聚反应, 通过调节DHPZ-P和DHPZ的比例, 合成了一系列侧苯基杂萘联苯聚醚酮酮(PPEKK-P), 然后以浓硫酸为磺化剂, 制备出一系列磺化侧苯基杂萘联苯聚醚酮酮(SPPEKK-P). 利用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和氢核磁共振谱(¹H NMR)对聚合物结构进行表征, 结果表明, 磺酸基团引入到聚合物链的侧苯基上. 采用溶液浇铸法制备SPPEKK-P质子交换膜. SPPEKK-P膜的吸水率、 溶胀率和质子传导率均随离子交换容量(IEC)的增加而增加, 且具有较好的耐氧化性. IEC最高的SPPEKK-P-100膜的质子传导率在95℃能达到7.44×10^-2 S/cm, 且甲醇渗透系数为5.57×10^-8 cm²/s, 阻醇性能优于Nafion117膜.     

Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) and Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Based Semi-Interpenetrating Network Membranes for Fuel Cells

Polymer electrolyte membranes are prepared from novel semi-interpenetrating polymer network material where the sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) is the linear polymer and the poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is the cross-linking constituent. The semi-IPN is prepared by in situ polymerization of PEGDA in the presence of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone). SPEEK is prepared by direct sulfonation of commercial PEEK (Gatone? 1100) by reported procedures. SPEEK with degree of sulfonation 63% (calculated from FT-NMR) is selected as the base membrane and different semi-IPN membranes were prepared by varying the PEGDA and SPEEK ratio. The degree of sulfonation of SPEEK and the formation of semi-IPN were confirmed by spectroscopy studies. The various semi-IPN membranes were characterized for ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, hydrolytic stability, proton conductivity and thermal stability for evaluating the suitability of these membranes for fuel cells. The proton conductivity of the membranes decreased with increasing PEGDA content. The Semi-IPN membranes exhibited conductivities (30°C) from 0.018 S/cm to 0.006 S/cm. These interpenetrating network membranes showed higher hydrolytic stability than the pure SPEEK membrane. This study shows that semi-IPN membranes based on PEGDA and SPEEK can be viable candidates for electrolyte membranes.     

Property improvement of nanocellulose‐reinforced proton exchange nanocomposite membrane coated with tetraethyl orthosilicate

Study on proton exchange membrane (PEM) with the aim toward excellent battery performance of PEM for fuel cells has attracted increasing attention. In this work, nanocellulose (CNC) aminated by KH792 noted as NN was prepared. CNC or NN/sulfophenylated poly(ether ether ketone ketone) (sPEEKK) nanocomposite membrane (SN) or (SNN) were produced by solution mixing. SNN was further coated with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to obtain SNNT. The properties of sPEEKK, SN, SNN, and SNNT membranes were thoroughly investigated. The proton conductivity of SN4 was 0.22 S·cm^?1 at 90 °C, while a proton conductivity of 0.30 S·cm^?1 was obtained for SNN4, and an even higher value of 0.36 S·cm^?1 at 90 °C was obtained for the TEOS‐coated SNN4 (SNN4T). Meanwhile, SNN4T showed high thermal stability, and its T_d5 was as high as 318.2 °C. Furthermore, the composite membrane coated with TEOS also presented excellent oxidative stability. The mass of SNN2T after treated in Fenton agent for 1 h at 80 °C was still retained 96.2%, and it was not fully dissolved until 11 h. It was illustrated that aminated CNC/sPEEKK nanocomposite membranes coated with TEOS is a kind of promising materials as PEMs for fuel cells. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2190–2200     

Proton Conductivity Improvement Effect of Cellulose on SPEEKK Based PEM

The proton exchange membranes(PEMs) were prepared through the solution mixing method of sulfonated poly(etlier ether ketone ketoneXsPEEKK) and cellulose. Cellulose was dissolved by 1-ally 1-3-methylimidazolium chioride(AMIMC1) and then mixed with sPEEKK solution. sPEEKK/cellulose(SC) composite membranes were prepared by solution casting. The membranes have high flexibility and transparency, which meant the compounding in molecular level. Meanwhile, the composite membranes showed excellent mechanical properties and high proton conductivity. The mechanical property reached 29 MPa, and the proton conductivity was as high as 0.32 S/cm. Thus, as a kind of biomaterials, cellulose could be ail excellent reinforcing material for poly(aryl ether ketone)(PAEK) based PEMs.     

磺化聚醚醚酮与壳聚糖共混制备直接甲醇燃料电池用质子交换膜

给出了不同磺化度下的磺化聚醚醚酮(SPEEK)用作质子交换膜的一系列性能,另外提出了一种新型的酸碱共混质子交换膜,其中,磺化聚醚醚酮和壳聚糖分别被选为酸性、碱性高分子电解质,并对所制备的质子交换膜的相关性能如质子传导性,甲醇渗透性,吸水率以及膜溶胀性、热稳定性等进行了表征,结果表明此种新型复合膜尽管在质子传导性能方面有所下降,阻醇性能改变不大,但是膜溶胀性和吸水率方面有了较大的改善.磺化度为71.4%的SPEEK与壳聚糖以5∶1摩尔比共混制备的质子交换膜,其性质可以与商品化的Nafion 117相媲美,有望在甲醇燃料电池中得到应用.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) composite membranes based on amino-modified halloysite nanotubes that effectively immobilize phosphotungstic acid

In this work, we prepared amino-modified halloysite nanotubes (PEI-DHNTs) via the co-deposition of self-polymerized dopamine and polyethylenimine (PEI) on the surface of nanotubes, which was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A series of composite proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were prepared by incorporating PEI-DHNTs and phosphotungstic acid (HPW) into sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). It was found that both PEI-DHNTs and HPW were well dispersed in the polymer matrix, exhibiting excellent filler-matrix compatibility. The composite membranes demonstrated enhanced proton conductivity, reaching as high as 0.078 S cm⁻¹ with 33.3 wt.% HPW loading, which was ~90% higher than that of SPEEK control membrane. Such improvement was mainly attributed to the strong acid–base pairs formed by PEI-DHNT with both SPEEK and HPW, which shortened proton hopping distance and created more continuous proton conduction pathways. Furthermore, the membrane conductivity remained almost constant after 1 year's immersion in liquid water, indicating the successful immobilization of HPW in the composite membranes.     

含氨基磺化聚芳醚酮砜质子交换膜的制备与性能

通过四元缩聚的方法合成了带有氨基的磺化度可控的磺化聚芳醚酮砜共聚物(Am-SPAEKS). 采用红外光谱和核磁共振谱表征了Am-SPAEKS共聚物的结构. 该共聚物膜具有较好的热性能、尺寸稳定性、较高的质子传导率和阻醇能力. 在80℃时Am-SPAEKS-1膜的质子传导率达到0.0894 S/cm, 而其甲醇渗透系数在25℃时为0.24×10^-6 cm²/s, 低于相同温度下SPAEKS膜(0.87×10^-6 cm²/s)和Nafion膜(2×10^-6 cm²/s). 结果表明, Am-SPAEKS膜能够满足质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)的使用要求.     

Proton conductive membranes of sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone)

Poly(ether ketone ketone) was sulfonated using fumic sulfuric acid and used for preparation of proton conductive membranes. The sulfonation degree was evaluated by elemental and thermal analysis and the IEC values were determined by titration. The proton conductivity of membranes with sulfonation degrees up to 70% was determined as a function of temperature by impedance spectroscopy. Membranes with sulfonation degree 38–70% were tested in DMFC experiments. Their performance was comparable to Nafion^® with the same pretreatment and clearly better than sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membranes with similar functionalization. The methanol crossover was lower than that of Nafion^® in the same conditions.     

Crosslinking of sulphonated poly (ether ether ketone) using aromatic bis(hydroxymethyl) compound

2,6-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-4-methyl phenol and 1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl) benzene have been used as crosslinkers in sulphonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK DS 65%, IEC 1.84 mequiv./g) for the preparation of proton exchange membranes (PEMs). Crosslinking of SPEEK has been achieved by thermally activated bridging of the polymer chain with the hydroxymethyl group of crosslinker through condensation reaction with sulphonic acid group. The physico-chemical properties of uncrosslinked and crosslinked membrane were evaluated in terms of ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. The crosslinked membrane showed controlled swelling, ionic conductivity of 25–50 mS/cm at 80 °C and good mechanical properties. The chemical stability of the crosslinked membranes was studied by Fenton's test. The % loss in weight and changes in physico-chemical properties of the treated membranes were determined.     

Investigation of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone sulfone)/heteropolyacid composite membranes for high temperature fuel cell applications

The sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone sulfone) (SPEEKS)/heteropolyacid (HPA) composite membranes with different HPA content in SPEEKS copolymers matrix with different degree of sulfonation (DS) were investigated for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Composite membranes were characterized by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR band shifts suggested that the sulfonic acid groups on the copolymer backbone strongly interact with HPA particles. SEM pictures showed that the HPA particles were uniformly distributed throughout the SPEEKS membranes matrix and particle sizes decreased with the increment of copolymers' DS. The holes were not found in SPEEKS‐4/HPA30 (consisting of 70% SPEEKS copolymers with DS = 0.8 and 30% HPA) composite membrane after composite membranes were treated with boiling water for 24 h. Thermal stabilities of the composite membranes were better than those of pure sulfonated copolymers membranes. Although the composite membranes possessed lower water uptake, it exhibited higher proton conductivity for SPEEKS‐4/HPA30 especially at high temperature (above 100 °C). Its proton conductivity linearly increased from 0.068 S/cm at 25 °C to 0.095 S/cm at 120 °C, which was higher than 0.06 S/cm of Nafion 117. In contrast, proton conductivity of pure SPEEKS‐4 membrane only increased from 0.062 S/cm at 25 °C to 0.078 S/cm at 80 °C. At 120 °C, proton conductivity decreased to poor 0.073 S/cm. The result indicated that composite membranes exhibited high proton conductivity at high temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1967–1978, 2006     

Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone)s containing fluorinated moieties as proton exchange membrane materials

A series of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone)s statistical copolymers with high molecular weights were synthesized via an aromatic nucleophilic substitution polymerization. The sulfonation content (SC), defined as the number of sulfonic acid groups contained in an average repeat unit, could be controlled by the feed ratios of monomers. Flexible and strong membranes in sodium sulfonate form could be prepared by the solution casting method, and readily transformed to their proton forms by treating them in 2 N sulfuric acid. The polymers showed high T_gs, which increased with an increase in SC. Membranes prepared from the present sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone ketone) copolymers containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene moiety (SPEEKK‐6F) and copolymers containing the pendant 3,5‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl moiety (SPEEKK‐6FP) had lower water uptakes and lower swelling ratios in comparison with previously prepared copolymers containing 6F units. All of the polymers possessed proton conductivities higher than 1 × 10^?2 S/cm at room temperature, and proton conductivity values of several polymers were comparable to that of Nafion at high relative humidity. Their thermal stability, oxidative stability, and mechanical properties were also evaluated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2299–2310, 2006     

含氨基聚芳醚酮/磺化聚芳醚酮砜中高温质子交换复合膜的制备与性能研究

以自制的高磺化度磺化聚芳醚酮砜(SPAEKS)和含有氨基的聚芳醚酮(Am-PAEK)为原料,通过共溶剂涂膜法制备了不同重量比例的Am-PAEK/SPAEKS复合膜.通过高温(160℃)处理使氨基和磺酸基团在复合膜内形成交联,制得交联型复合膜.复合膜的热性能、尺寸稳定性、阻醇性能有所提高,而且交联型复合膜中的Am-PAEK/SPAEKS-C-3质子传导率在120℃时达到了0.0892 S/cm,高于在相同测试条件下SPAEKS膜的0.0654 S/cm和Nafion膜的0.062 S/cm,而其甲醇渗透系数在25℃时达到0.14×10-6cm2/s,低于SPAEKS膜的0.85×10-6cm2/s和Nafion膜的2×10-6cm2/s.实验结果表明,Am-PAEK/SPAEKS交联型复合膜有望在中高温质子交换膜燃料电池中得到应用.     

全钒液流电池用磺化聚醚醚酮/锂皂石质子膜的结构及性能

通过溶液流延法制备了磺化聚醚醚酮/锂皂石(SPEEK/Lap)复合膜, 对其物理化学性质、 机械性能、 化学稳定性及单电池性能进行了测试. 在SPEEK基质中引入的Lap有效改善了复合膜的质子传导率、 溶胀率和机械性能. 当Lap添加量(质量分数)从0.2%增到1.5%时, 复合膜的质子传导率随之增加(19.9~23.6 mS/cm). SPEEK/Lap-0.2复合膜的自放电时间为57.2 h, 是Nafion 117膜的2.4倍和纯SPEEK膜的1.5倍. 在80 mA/cm ²电流密度下, SPEEK/Lap-0.2复合膜的电压效率(VE, 86.5%)和能量效率(EE, 84.0%)明显高于Nafion 117膜(VE: 83.8%, EE: 80.7%)和纯SPEEK膜(VE: 81.4%, EE: 78.9%). 同时, SPEEK/Lap-0.2复合膜经100次充放电循环测试后具有良好的循环稳定性和结构稳定性.     

新型共混交联磺化聚醚醚酮/部分氟化磺化聚芳醚砜质子交换膜的制备与表征

制备了基于磺化聚醚醚酮(SPEEK)/部分氟化磺化聚芳醚砜(SPFAES)的共混交联型质子交换膜(CMB), 研究了其吸水率、 尺寸变化、 力学性能、 热性能、 质子电导率、 化学稳定性及电池性能等. 通过在溶液浇铸过程中加入脱水剂诱导高温脱水反应, 在共混体系内构建了交联结构. 结果表明, 由于SPEEK与SPFAES之间良好的相容性、 分散性和聚合物链的重排及交联作用, CMB膜在干态下均表现出出色的力学强度, 且物化稳定性得到大幅提升. 在低离子交换容量(1.21~1.51 mmol/g)条件下, CMB膜的质子电导率达到122~219 mS/cm(80 ℃), 在氢氧单电池中, CMB4膜的最大功率密度达到530.5 mW/cm²(80 ℃).     

Polymer blend membranes of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) for direct methanol fuel cell

The blend membranes of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) (sPAEK) (IEC = 1.0 mequiv./g)/Nafion^® and the blend membranes of sPAEK (IEC = 1.0 mequiv./g)/sPAEK (IEC = 1.7 mequiv./g) were prepared. sPAEK with low IEC was introduced to reduce the methanol permeability through the membrane. Morphology, water uptake, proton conductivity and methanol permeability of the blend membranes were investigated by SEM, AFM, AC impedance spectroscopy and permeability measuring instrument. The cross-sections of blend membranes showed phase-separated morphologies. The effect of phase-separated morphology on the properties of blend membranes was investigated. The properties like water uptake, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability of sPAEK/Nafion^® blend membranes showed similar values with sPAEK and properties of sPAEK/sPAEK blend membranes showed intermediate values of two polymers due to the difference in morphology of the blend membranes. sPAEK/sPAEK blend membranes showed relatively high proton conductivity and lowered methanol permeability compared to Nafion^®. sPAEK/sPAEK blend membranes could be a competent substitution for Nafion^®.     

Polyaniline decorated graphene oxide on sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane for direct methanol fuel cells application

In direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), methanol crossover is a major issue which has reduced the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for energy generation. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) and conductive polyaniline decorated GO (PANI-GO) were used as additives in fabrication of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) nanocomposite PEM membrane to reduce methanol crossover. PANI-GO was synthesized by in situ polymerization method and the formation of PANI coated GO nanostructures was confirmed by surface morphology and crystallinity analysis. The membrane morphology and topography analysis confirmed that GO and PANI-GO were well dispersed on the surface of SPEEK membrane. 0.1 wt% PANI-GO modified SPEEK nanocomposite membrane exhibited the highest water uptake and ion exchange capacity of 40% and 1.74 meq g^?1, respectively. The oxidative stability of the nanocomposite membranes also improved. Lower methanol permeability of 4.33 × 10^?7 cm^?2S^?1 was noticed for 0.1 wt% PANI-GO modified SPEEK membrane. PANI-GO modified SPEEK membrane enhanced the proton conductivity, which was due to the existence of acidic and hydrophilic group present in PANI and GO. PANI-GO modified SPEEK membrane held higher selectivity of 1.94 × 10⁴ S cm^?3 s^?1. Overall, these studies revealed that PANI-GO modified SPEEK membrane is a potential material for DMFC applications.     

磺化双酚芴型聚醚醚酮质子交换膜的制备及其在钒流电池中的应用

以双酚芴为结构单元合成双酚型聚醚醚酮聚合物,聚醚醚酮经浓硫酸磺化在双酚芴结构单元中引入磺化基团制备出聚醚醚酮质子交换膜(SF-PEEK)。 用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、核磁共振氢谱(¹H NMR)、热重分析(TG)、原子力显微镜(AFM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等方法对聚醚醚酮质子交换膜的结构进行表征。 结果表明,磺酸基团被成功地在聚醚醚酮侧基上,SF-PEEK膜具有明显的亲水疏水微相分离形貌,磺酸基团相互聚集成形成离子通道。 SF-PEEK膜离子交换容量(IEC)达到1.97 mmol/g时,其电导率达到4.15×10^-2 S/cm,略低于Nafion117膜的5.67×10^-2 S/cm,但其钒离子渗透率仅为Nafion117膜的20.1%,表现出极好的离子选择性。 在钒流电池测试中,SF-PEEK膜在不同电流密度下库伦效率均高于Nafion117膜,其中IEC为1.97 mmol/g的SF80-PEEK608(80为SF的物质的量分数,608为60 ℃反应8 h)库伦效率在电流密度为40 mA/cm²时达到最大值80.9%,高于Nafion117膜的78.8%。 在自放电测试中,以SF80-PEEK608膜组装的电池的自放电时间为90 h,高于Nafion117膜的57 h。     

Sulfonated montmorillonite/sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SMMT/SPEEK) nanocomposite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs)

A nanocomposite membrane of sulfonated montmorillonite/sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SMMT/SPEEK) is proposed for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The SMMT is clay modified with silane of which the structure consists of a sulfonic acid group for proton conductivity improvement. The micro- and nano-scaled morphologies of the membranes perform the increase in inorganic aggregation with SMMT loading content as confirmed by SEM and AFM. The membrane stability, i.e., the liquid uptake in water and in methanol aqueous solution, as well as the mechanical stability increases with the SMMT loading content whereas thermal stability does not improve significantly. The methanol permeability reduction is obtained when the SMMT loading content increases for various methanol concentrations (1.5–4.5 M). A comparative study of the SPEEK nanocomposite membranes with SMMT and with pristine MMT shows fourfold proton conductivity enhancement after sulfonation. The DMFC single cell tests inform us that all nanocomposite membranes give the significant performance revealed by the plot of current density–voltage and power density.