Nanophase-Separated Block-co-Polymers Based on Phosphonated Pentafluorostyrene and Octylstyrene for Proton-Exchange Membranes
Auffarth S, Wagner M, Krieger A, Fritsch B, Hager L, Hutzler A, Böhm T, Thiele S, Kerres J (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
Book Volume: 5
Pages Range: 2039-2046
Journal Issue: 8
DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.3c00569
Abstract
Nanophase separation into hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains in commercial perfluorosulfonic acid polymers promotes high conductivity by forming proton-conductive channels within a matrix. To transfer this beneficial phase separation to phosphonic acid functionalized ionomers, we combine phosphonated polypentafluorostyrene and flexible polyoctylstyrene in a di-block-co-polymer. We introduce a stepwise approach, including mesophase simulations, synthesis, and spectroscopic imaging. After the required block lengths were calculated, controlled radical polymerization led to a narrowly distributed block-co-polymer. The respective block-co-polymer membrane outperforms a phosphonated pentafluorostyrene blend concerning conductivity and water uptake. Stained membrane cross-sections revealed bicontinuous nanophase separation in the 13 to 25 nm range in transmission electron microscopy. The ion-conducting phosphonated polymer block assembled into an isotropic, three-dimensional gyroidal network across the membrane. Our stepwise approach is transferable toward other block-co-polymer systems featuring different monomers or functional groups. Applying the proposed principles allows for the prediction of structure-related phase separation while reducing the amount of synthesis work.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ)
Germany (DE)
Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI-ERN)
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI-ERN)
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Auffarth, S., Wagner, M., Krieger, A., Fritsch, B., Hager, L., Hutzler, A.,... Kerres, J. (2023). Nanophase-Separated Block-co-Polymers Based on Phosphonated Pentafluorostyrene and Octylstyrene for Proton-Exchange Membranes. ACS Materials Letters, 5(8), 2039-2046. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.3c00569
MLA:
Auffarth, Sebastian, et al. "Nanophase-Separated Block-co-Polymers Based on Phosphonated Pentafluorostyrene and Octylstyrene for Proton-Exchange Membranes." ACS Materials Letters 5.8 (2023): 2039-2046.
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