Improved mechanical strength of partially sulfonated polystyrene-poly (dimethylsiloxane) block copolymer proton exchange membranes by nanoscale sequestration of thermally crosslinked silicone

• Published in: Macromolecular research Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 451 - 454
• Main Authors: Lee, Wonmok, Gil, Seung Chul, Lee, Hyunjung, Kim, Haekyoung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2009; 한국고분자학회
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Soft and Granular Matter; 고분자공학; Proton Conductance; Direct Methanol Fuel Cell; Membrane Electrode Assembly; PDMS; Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
• ISSN: 1598-5032; 2092-7673
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03218890

Conclusions To improve the mechanical property of sPS- b -PDMS proton conducting membrane for DMFC application, crosslinkable PDMS oligomer has been incorporated within the BCP ionomer. Premixing different amount of Sylgard 184 PDMS in the ionomer solution, and subsequent membrane casting and thermal curing revealed that the composite membrane containing 5 wt% of Sylgard 184 showed enhanced properties in the uniaxial tensile strength, toughness, methanol permeability, and even in the proton conductance. This results show that the PDMS oligomers were successfully sequestered within PDMS block of sPS- b -PDMS during casting procedure, and safely crosslinked without deterioration of the membrane microphase structure.