Preparation of new proton exchange membranes using sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) modified by octylamine (SPESOS)

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPES) has received considerable attention in membrane preparation for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). But such membranes are brittle and difficult to handle in operation. We investigated new membranes using SPES grafted with various degrees of octylamine. Five new materials made from sulfonated polyethersulfone sulfonamide (SPESOS) were synthetized with different grades of grafting. They were made from SPES, with initially an ionic exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.4 meq g−1 (1.3 H+ per monomer unit). Pristine SPES with that IEC is water swelling and becomes soluble at 80 °C, its proton conductivity is in the range of 0.1 S cm−1 at room temperature in aqueous H2SO4 1 M, similar to that of Nafion®. After grafting with various amounts of octylamine, the material is water insoluble; membranes are less brittle and show sufficient ionic conductivity. Proton transport numbers were measured close to 1.

► New, simple and cheap way to synthesize a membrane.
► The membranes combine good proton conductivities with good mechanical properties.
► The membrane performances in a fuel cell are similar to the Nafion 117.