Morphology and transport properties of protons and methanol through partially sulfonated block copolymers

The morphological changes with different compositions of casting solvents in the membranes of sulfonated polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) were investigated with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Using the single solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the solvent mixtures of methanol/THF with different compositions, the casting polymer solutions were prepared for the membrane fabrication. The proton conductivity and the methanol permeability of membranes were measured, and the effect of morphological changes on the casting solvents was discussed through Flory–Huggins theory. It was found that the sulfonated SEBS membranes were transformed from well ordered lamellar to disordered co-continuous structure and the morphological difference caused abrupt enhancement in the proton conductivity and the methanol permeability as the concentration of methanol in the mixed solvents (MeOH/THF) increased.