Cross-linked poly(arylene ether ketone) membrane bearing pendant sulfanilic acid for high proton conductivity and low water uptake

Hydrolytically stable, proton conductive membranes were prepared from cross-linked poly(arylene ether ketone). The reduction of proton conduction caused by cross-linking was compensated for using a proton conductive cross-linker, 2,2′-benzidinedisulfonic acid. Sulfonation was achieved at pendant positions using sulfanilic acid (4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid) as its acidity is greater at pendant positions than at aryl positions. Fully sulfonated membranes were prepared with up to 30% cross-linking. Despite the high degree of sulfonation, the cross-linked membranes showed much lower water uptake than Nafion®. The membranes' low methanol permeability, ca. 20%–25% that of Nafion®, led to selectivity, the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability, about 3 to 4 times that of Nafion®, despite showing slightly lower proton conductivities. Small angle X-ray scattering showed ionic clusters of around 3.15 nm, which was slightly decreased by cross-linking. This decrease lessened all the investigated membrane properties, water uptake, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability.

► Hydrolytically stable membranes were prepared from cross-linked PAEK.
► Cross-linked PAEK membranes bear pendant sulfanilic acids.
► Proton conductive cross-linker reduces water uptake and methanol permeability.
► Proton conductivity is, however, maintained at a moderate value.