1,6-Bis(4-vinylphenyl)hexane as a crosslinking agent for the preparation of crosslinked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membranes by EB irradiation

In order to mitigate problems associated with highly sulfonated aromatic hydrocarbon membranes, such as dimensional stability, mechanical strength, and methanol crossover, sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes containing 1,6-bis(4-vinylphenyl)hexane (BVPH) were crosslinked by EB irradiation. Compared to the pristine SPEEK membrane, the crosslinked membranes exhibited significantly improved dimensional stability, chemical stability, and mechanical strength. The crosslinking procedure slightly reduced the proton conductivity of the membranes. The crosslinking of SPEEK with BVPH was also found to slightly reduce the proton conductivity of the membranes, but significantly reduced the methanol permeability.