Synthesis and properties of novel benzimidazole‐containing sulfonated polyethersulfones for fuel cell applications

A novel series of benzimidazole‐containing sulfonated poly(arylene sulfones)s with controllable amount of basic 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)pyridine (BIP) and sulfonic acid groups have been prepared by the copolycondensation of a new BIP‐containing arylene difluoride monomer (DFSBIP) with a sulfonated arylene difluoride (DSDFS) and 4,4′‐biphenol (BP). All the resulting polymers have high molecular weights, good thermal stability, and can form uniform and tough membranes by simple solution casting. Because of the strong acid–base interaction between BIP and sulfonic acid groups, ionic crosslinking networks forms that resulted in polymer membranes with good dimensional stability in water even at high temperature (e.g., 100 °C). The ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the polymer membranes was investigated through a new simple pH‐determination method. A comparison between the experimental IEC values with the calculated ones based on the polymer structures indicated that each BIP unit interacted with one sulfonic acid group. Thus, by controlling the relative content of BIP units and sulfonate groups in the polymers, the intra‐ and intermolecular acid–base interactions could be readily optimized so as to achieve polymers with high IEC values, high proton conductivities as well as low swelling ratios, demonstrating good potential for proton exchange membrane applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1920–1929, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated homo‐ and co‐polyimides based on 2,4 and 2,5‐diaminobenzenesulfonic acid for proton exchange membranes

A series of sulfonated homo‐ and random co‐polyimides (co‐SPI) based on 2,4‐diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (2,4‐DABS) and 2,5‐diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (2,5‐DABS) has been synthesized via conventional two‐step polyimidization method. 2,4‐DABS and 2,5‐DABS were used as sulfonated diamine compounds, 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) were used as non‐sulfonated diamine compounds. Mixtures of sulfonated and non‐sulfonated diamine compounds were reacted with benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) to obtain co‐SPI membranes. Molar ratios of sulfonated to non‐sulfonated diamine were systematically varied to produce copolymers of controlled compositions. The co‐SPIs were evaluated for thermal oxidative stability, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, proton conductivity, solubility, and hydrolytic stability. Proton conductivity and hydrolytic stability of the co‐SPIs were compared with the fully aromatic polyimide, homo‐SPIs (BTDA/2,4‐DABS and BTDA/2,5‐DABS). Regarding thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis, it is concluded that desulfonation temperature in the range of 200–350°C suggests high stability of sulfonic acid groups. co‐SPIs with 40 mol% of 2,4‐DABS showed similar or higher proton conductivity than Nafion® 117 in water. Proton conductivity values of the co‐SPIs were mainly a function of IEC and water uptake. Consequently, the optimum concentration of 2,4‐DABS was found to be in the range of 30–40 mol% from the viewpoint of proton conductivity, IEC, and hydrolytic stability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of multiblock copolymers based on hydrophilic disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and hydrophobic partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone) for fuel cell applications

Sulfonated fluorinated multiblock copolymers based on high performance polymers were synthesized and evaluated for use as proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The multiblock copolymers consist of fully disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone) as hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, respectively. Synthesis of the multiblock copolymers was achieved by a condensation coupling reaction between controlled molecular weight hydrophilic and hydrophobic oligomers. The coupling reaction could be conducted at relatively low temperatures (e.g., 105 °C) by utilizing highly reactive hexafluorobenzene (HFB) as a linkage group. The low coupling reaction temperature could prevent a possible trans‐etherification, which can randomize the hydrophilic‐hydrophobic sequences. Tough ductile membranes were prepared by solution casting and their membrane properties were evaluated. With similar ion exchange capacities (IECs), proton conductivity and water uptake were strongly influenced by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic block sequence lengths. Conductivity and water uptake increased with increasing block length by developing nanophase separated morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments revealed that the connectivity of the hydrophilic segments was enhanced by increasing the block length. The systematic synthesis and characterization of the copolymers are reported. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 214–222, 2010     

Synthesis,characterization and applications of polysiloxane networks with immobilized pyrogallol ligands

A porous, solid insoluble polysiloxane‐immobilized ligand system bearing pyrogallol active sites of the general formula P? (CH₂)₃? NH(CH₂)₃OC₆H₃(OH)₂ (where P represents [Si? O]_n siloxane network) has been prepared by the reaction of 3‐aminopropylpolysiloxane with 1,3‐dibromopropane followed by the reaction with pyrogallol. ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that the pyrogallol is chemically bonded to the siloxane backbone. Thermal analysis showed that the ligand system is stable under nitrogen at relatively high temperature. The polysiloxane–pyrogallol ligand system exhibits high potential for the uptake of the metal ions (Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺). Complexation of the pyrogallol ligand system for the metal ions at the optimum conditions was found to be in the order Fe³⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Co²⁺. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular and morphological characterization of midblock‐sulfonated styrenic triblock copolymers

Midblock‐sulfonated triblock copolymers afford a desirable opportunity to generate network‐forming amphiphilic materials that are suitable for use in a wide range of emerging technologies as fuel‐cell, water‐desalination, ion‐exchange, photovoltaic, or electroactive membranes. Employing a previously reported synthetic strategy wherein poly(p‐tert‐butylstyrene) remains unreactive, we have selectively sulfonated the styrenic midblock of a poly(p‐tert‐butylstyrene‐b‐styrene‐b‐p‐tert‐butylstyrene) (TST) triblock copolymer to different extents. Comparison of the resulting sulfonated copolymers with results from our prior study provides favorable quantitative agreement and suggests that a shortened reaction time is advantageous. An ongoing challenge regarding the morphological development of charged block copolymers is the competition between microphase separation of the incompatible blocks and physical cross‐linking of ionic clusters, with the latter often hindering the former. Here, we expose the sulfonated TST copolymers to solvent‐vapor annealing to promote nanostructural refinement. The effect of such annealing on morphological characteristics, as well as on molecular free volume, is explored. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 490–497     

Synthesis of carbohydrate‐segmented polydimethylsiloxanes by hydrosilylation

Carbohydrate‐modified polysiloxanes have been presented several times within the last decade. In this work, a new route to carbohydrate‐segmented polysiloxanes is presented. A series of allyl‐group‐containing bifunctional carbohydrate derivatives was synthesized and reacted with hydrodimethylsilyl‐terminated polysiloxane in hydrosilylation reactions with Speier's catalyst. The carbohydrate monomers and the resulting materials were fully characterized with ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3814–3822, 2005     

Preparation and characterization of novel polyimide‐silica hybrids

Polyimide‐silica (PI‐SiO₂) hybrids were prepared from a novel polyimide (PI), derived from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 1,6‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)hexane (synthesized) and 4,4′‐oxydianiline. SiO₂ networks (5–30 wt%) were generated through sol–gel process using either tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) or a mixture of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane‐PMDA‐based coupling oligomers (APA) and TEOS. Thin, free standing hybrid films were obtained from the respective mixtures by casting and curing processes. The hybrid films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. ²⁹Si NMR results provide information about formation of organically modified silicate structures that were further substantiated by FE‐SEM and AFM micrographs. Contact angle measurements and thermogravimetric thermograms reveal that the addition of APA profoundly influences surface energy, interfacial tension, thermal stability and the residual char yield of modified hybrids in comparison to those obtained by mixing only TEOS. It was found that reduced particle size, efficient dispersion and improved interphase interactions were responsible for the eventual property enhancement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Segmented sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)‐b‐polyimide copolymers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. I. Copolymer synthesis and fundamental properties

Segmented disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)‐b‐polyimide copolymers based on hydrophilic and hydrophobic oligomers were synthesized and evaluated for use as proton exchange membranes (PEMs). Amine terminated sulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) hydrophilic oligomers and anhydride terminated naphthalene based polyimide hydrophobic oligomers were synthesized via step growth polymerization including high temperature one‐pot imidization. Synthesis of the multiblock copolymers was achieved by an imidization coupling reaction of hydrophilic and hydrophobic oligomers oligomers in a m‐cresol/NMP mixed solvent system, producing high molecular weight tough and ductile membranes. Proton conductivities and water uptake increased with increasing ion exchange capacities (IECs) of the copolymers as expected. The morphologies of the multiblock copolymers were investigated by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM‐AFM) and their measurements revealed that the multiblock copolymers had well‐defined nano‐phase separated morphologies which were clearly a function of block lengths. Hydrolytic stability test at 80 °C water for 1000 h showed that multiblock copolymer membranes retained intrinsic viscosities of about 80% of the original values and maintained flexibility which was much improved over polyimide random copolymers. The synthesis and fundamental properties of the multiblock copolymers are reported here and the systematic fuel cell properties will be provided in a separate article. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4879–4890, 2007     

New fluorinated thermoplastic elastomers. II. Synthesis and characterization of perfectly alternating fluorinated polyimide–fluorinated polyhybridsiloxane block copolymers via polyhydrosilylation

The synthesis of perfectly alternating fluorinated polyimide–fluorinated polyhybridsiloxane block copolymers (FPI‐FPHSX) was achieved through polyhydrosilylation of α,ω‐diallylfluorinated polyimides (AT‐FPI) and α,ω‐dihydrosilane fluorinated–polyhybridsiloxanes (HT‐FPHSX). A series of three FPI‐FPHSX containing 15, 38, and 56 wt % of polyimide was synthesized and characterized by tuning the number‐average molecular weight either of the hard polyimide segments or of the soft polyhybridsiloxane segments. The influence of the soft and hard segment lengths on the behavior of the thermoplastic elastomer material was studied (hardness, surface tension, thermal stability). The FPI‐FPHSX block copolymers thermomechanical properties are also reported. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 200–207, 2004     

Synthesis and properties of novel sulfonated polyimides containing 1,5‐naphthylene moieties

A series of novel sulfonated polyimides (equivalent weight per sulfonic acid = 310–744 g/equiv) containing 10–70 mol % 1,5‐naphthylene moieties were synthesized as potential electrolyte materials for high‐temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The polycondensation of 1,4,5,8‐naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4′‐diamino‐2,2′‐biphenyldisulfonic acid, and 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene gave the title polymer electrolytes. The polyimide electrolytes were high‐molecular‐weight (number‐average molecular weight = 36.0–350.7 × 10³ and weight‐average molecular weight = 70.4–598.5 × 10³) and formed flexible and tough films. The thermal properties (decomposition temperature > 260 °C, no glass‐transition temperature), stability to oxidation, and water absorption were analyzed and compared with those of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. The polyimide containing 20 mol % 1,5‐naphthylene moieties showed higher proton conductivity (0.3 S cm^?1) at 120 °C and 100% relative humidity than perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. The temperature and humidity dependence of the proton conductivity was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3901–3907, 2003     

Preparation and characterization of hybrid membranes for fuel cell applications: EPDM filled with organophilized silicas

This work reports on the preparation and characterization of hybrid membranes based on blends of ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (EPDM) and different organophilized silicas. The films obtained were crosslinked to improve mechanical stability, and heterogeneously sulfonated to convert them in proton conducting systems. The structural characterization consisted on the analysis of their thermal and mechanodynamical transitions by DSC and DMA, the verification of the introduction of sulfonic groups by infrared spectroscopy (ATR), and the obtaining of information about the silica location and distribution within the polymer by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM‐EDX). The electrical characterization was made using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Also, methanol crossover and water up‐take were determined, and the results were compared with those of Nafion^®117. Results show that sulfonation of the styrene rings has effectively occurred. Conductivity value is higher and methanol crossover is lower than in Nafion for all experimental samples. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1203–1210, 2009     

Tunable block copolymers based on a polysiloxane backbone by anionic ring‐opening polymerization

Block copolymers with tunable functional groups were obtained through the postfunctionalization of poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐b‐poly(methylvinylsiloxane) diblock copolymers prepared by the anionic ring‐opening polymerization of cyclotrisiloxanes. As the source of the vinyl‐containing segment, 1,3,5‐trimethyl‐1,3,5‐trivinylcyclotrisiloxane was used. The obtained polymers showed high block purity and a narrow molecular weight distribution. The postmodification was carried out with a two‐step procedure: in the first step, epoxide groups were introduced into the diblock copolymer, and in the second step, the ring opening of the latter functionalities was carried out. A variety of different nucleophiles were used for the ring‐opening reaction, and the influence of selected reaction parameters, such as the dilution and the use of monofunctional and difunctional nucleophiles, on the resulting polymers were investigated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3975–3985, 2004     

Preparation of functionalized block copolymers based on a polysiloxane backbone by anionic ring‐opening polymerization

Polysiloxane diblock copolymers containing a pure polysiloxane backbone were prepared by the functionalization of poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐b‐poly(methylvinylsiloxane) copolymers. The copolymers were obtained by the sequential anionic copolymerization of either 1,3,5,7‐tetramethyl‐1,3,5,7‐tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane or 1,3,5‐trimethyl‐1,3,5‐trivinylcyclotrisiloxane with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane. The two vinyl monomers showed large differences in the propagation rates, but both could be used for the formation of polysiloxane block copolymers. Differences in the polymerization sequences were investigated and revealed that better control was obtained if the slower propagating monomer was polymerized first. The method permitted the synthesis of block copolymers with molecular weight distributions around 1.4 and lower and high block purities. The vinyl groups of the block copolymers were quantitatively and selectively functionalized by hydrosilation or epoxidation reactions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1539–1551, 2002     

Synthesis,characterization, and proton‐conducting properties of organic–inorganic hybrid membranes based on polysiloxane zwitterionomer

The synthesis and characterization of a series of zwitterionic hybrid membranes based on a zwitterionic siloxane precursor (ZS) are described. Flexible, transparent, optically homogeneous films were prepared. With the further incorporation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), the hybrid films became more flexible but translucent. The structure of the inorganic sides was probed with solid‐state ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, and the organic sides and the chemical process involved were characterized with solid‐state ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning NMR. A higher content of ZS led to higher proton conductivity of the hybrid electrolytes. Moreover, the proton conductivity was enhanced by the addition of the plasticizing component of PEG to the hybrid matrix; this was ascribed to the increased water uptake and free volume of the hybrid matrix and the dissociation of sulfonic acid groups. The proton conductivity of these hybrid membranes could be increased up to 3.5 × 10^?2 S/cm by the temperature and relative humidity being increased to 85 °C and 95%, respectively. The proton‐conduction behavior of these hybrid membranes is also briefly discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3444–3453, 2006     

Directly copolymerized poly(arylene sulfide sulfone) disulfonated copolymers for PEM‐based fuel cell systems. I. Synthesis and characterization

Direct aromatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensations of disodium 3,3′‐disulfonate‐4,4′‐difluorodiphenylsulfone (SDFDPS), 4,4′‐difluorodiphenylsulfone (DFDPS) (or their chlorinated analogs), and 4,4′‐thiobisbenzenethiol in the presence of potassium carbonate were investigated. Electrophilic aromatic substitution was employed to synthesize the SDFDPS comonomer in high yields and purity. High molecular weight disulfonated copolymers were easily obtained using the SDFDPS monomers, but in general, slower rates and a lower molecular weight copolymer were obtained using the analogous chlorinated monomers. Tough and ductile membranes were solution cast from N,N‐dimethylacetamide for both series of copolymers. The degrees of disulfonation (20–50%) were controlled by varying the ratio of disulfonated to unsulfonated comonomers. Precise control of the ionic concentration, well‐defined ionic locations, and enhanced stability due to the deactivated position of the –SO₃H group are some of the suggested advantages of direct copolymerization of sulfonated monomers. Further publications will discuss additional characteristics of these copolymers that have the same repeat unit, but different molecular weights, using methanol permeability, water uptake, protonic conductivity, and dynamic mechanical analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2964‐2976, 2005     

Self‐assembling directed synthesis of a novel terephthalamide‐bridged ladderlike polysiloxane

A novel, soluble terephthalamide‐bridged ladderlike polysiloxane ( L ) was synthesized successfully for the first time by stepwise coupling polymerization. The process involved the hydrogen‐bonding self‐assembly of amido groups, which resulted in the formation of a more highly ordered polymeric structure. A novel monomer, bis(3‐methyldimethoxysilylpropyl) terephthalamide ( M ), was prepared by a hydrosilylation reaction in the presence of dicyclopentadienyl platinum dichloride as a catalyst. The structures of the monomer ( M ) and the polymer ( L ) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, mass spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and vapor pressure osmometry. All the characterization data indicated that the synthesized polymer ( L ) possessed an ordered ladderlike structure. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3161–3170, 2002     

Synthesis and properties of low‐dielectric‐constant polyimides with introduced reactive fluorine polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

A high‐performance, low‐dielectric‐constant polyimide (PI) nanocomposite from poly(amic acid) (PAA) cured with a reactive fluorine polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) isomer was successfully synthesized. The features of this reactive fluorine POSS isomer [octakis(dimethylsiloxyhexafluoropropylglycidyl ether)silsesquioxane (OFG)] provided two important approaches (containing fluorine or being porous in the polymer matrix) of reducing the dielectric constant of PI. This reactive POSS isomer had an average of four epoxy groups and four fluorine groups on the POSS cage, and the epoxy groups could be cured with PAA to form a network framework of a PI/POSS nanocomposite. The PI/OFG nanocomposite had a high crosslinking density, high porosity (24.3%), high hydrophobicity, and low polarizability. These properties enhanced the thermal (glass‐transition temperature ～ 362 °C) and dielectric (dielectric constant ～2.30) properties of PI more than other POSS derivatives introduced into the PI backbone. A large number of small POSS particles (<10 nm) were embedded inside the PI matrix when the OFG content was low, whereas interconnected POSS aggregation domains were observed when the OFG content was high. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5391–5402, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of end‐functionalized carbosiloxane dendrimers

Dendritic carbosilanes containing 48 and 96 functional groups on the periphery were prepared. The reaction of the fourth and fifth parent dendritic generations (G4‐48Cl and G5‐96Cl) with alcohol [9‐anthracene methanol, 8‐hydroxyquinoline, 4‐hydroxyazobenzene, 2‐hydroxymethylanthraquinone, and 5‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐4‐methylthiazole] in the presence of 1,1,2,2‐tetramethylethyenediamine produced end‐functionalized dendrimers with very high yields. The polydispersity indices of the prepared dendrimers revealed unchanged narrow values between the fourth and fifth generations. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 326–333, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of spirobifluorene‐based polyimides

The synthesis and properties of organosoluble aromatic polyimides, containing spiro‐skeletal units in the polymer backbone on the basis of the spiro‐diamine monomer, 2,2′‐diamino‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene, are described. In the case of the spiro segment, the two fluorene rings are orthogonally arranged and connected through a tetrahedral bonding carbon atom, the spiro center. As a consequence, the polymer chain is periodically zigzagged with a 90° angle at each spiro center. This structural feature minimizes interchain interactions and restricts the close packing of the polymer chains, resulting in amorphous polyimides that have good solubility in organic solvents. Compared with their fluorene‐based cardo analogues, the spirobifluorene‐based polyimides have an improved solubility. Furthermore, the main‐chain rigidity of the polyimide appears to be preserved because of the presence of the spiro structure, which restricts the free segmental mobility. As a result, these polyimides exhibit a high glass‐transition temperature (T_g's) and good thermal stability. The T_g's of these polyimides were in the range of 287–374 °C, and the decomposition temperatures in nitrogen for a 10% weight loss occurred at temperatures above 570 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3615–3621, 2002