Cross-Linked Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether sulfone) Containing a Flexible and Hydrophobic Bishydroxy Perfluoropolyether Cross-Linker for High-Performance Proton Exchange Membrane

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Abstract
Here we show a simple and effective cross-linking method to prepare high performance cross-linked sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (C-SPAES) membrane using bishydroxy perfluoropolyether (PFPE) as a cross-linker for fuel cell applications. C-SPAES membrane shows much improved physicochemical stability due to the cross-linked structure and reasonably high proton conductivity than non-crosslinked SPAES membrane due to the incorporation of flexible PFPE and the effective phase-separated morphology between the hydrocarbon and perfluorinated moieties forming well-connected networks. Under intermediate-temperature and low humidity conditions (90 °C, 50% RH, and 150 kPa), the membrane electrode assembly employing C-SPAES membrane reveals an outstanding cell performance (1.17 W cm-2 at 0.65 V) ascribed to its reasonably high proton conductivity and enhanced interfacial compatibility between the perfluorinated moieties in electrode and C-SPAES membrane. Furthermore, a hydration-dehydration cycling test result at 90 °C reveals that C-SPAES membrane has notable durability against rigorous operating conditions.
Funding Information
  • National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2015M1A2A2056729)

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