New multi-phenylene polymer electrolyte containing hexabenzocoronene interior for PEMFC

Abstract The sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s containing hexabenzocoronene moiety that is partial graphene structure (SPGHPs) for polymer electrolyte membrane were synthesized and characterized their properties. Graphene is predicted to have remarkable properties, such as high thermal conductivity, superior mechanical properties and excellent electronic transport properties. We apply the advantages of graphene properties to polymer electrolyte membranes for improve the durability and performance. Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s containing hexaphenyls on polymer backbone were synthesized by polycondensation and followed intra-cyclization by friedel–craft reaction with lewis acid (FeCl 3 ) to form partial graphene structure. The sulfonation was taken selectively on hexabenzocoronen units with concentrated sulfuric acid. The structure properties of the sulfonated polymers were investigated by 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. The resulted ion exchange capacities (IEC) were 1.09–1.61 meq./g. The water uptakes were 8.84–15.27% at 30 °C and 18.27%∼42.38% at 80 °C with changing the ion exchange capacities. The SPGHP membranes exhibit proton conductivities (80 °C, RH 90) of 78.3–105.7 mS/cm compared with 106.2 mS/cm of Nafion 211 ® .