Synthesis and Characterization of Multiblock Copolymer Proton Exchange Membranes for High Temperature Fuel Cell Applications

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dc.contributor.authorLee, Hae-Seungen
dc.contributor.committeechairMcGrath, James E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberEsker, Alan R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDavis, Richey M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDillard, John G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRiffle, Judy S.en
dc.contributor.departmentMacromolecular Science and Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:11:39Zen
dc.date.adate2009-06-04en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:11:39Zen
dc.date.issued2009-04-24en
dc.date.rdate2012-03-30en
dc.date.sdate2009-05-07en
dc.description.abstractThe potential success of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell as an alternative energy source depends highly upon the development of high performance PEMs. Typically, state-of-the-art PEMs have been perfluorinated sulfonated ionomer membranes such as Nafion® by DuPont. Although these membranes demonstrate good mechanical and electrochemical properties under moderate operating conditions (e.g., < 80 ºC), their performance at high temperature (e.g., > 80 ºC) and low relative humidity (RH) drastically deteriorates. To overcome these problems, PEM materials with enhanced properties are essential. Recently, the McGrath group has shown that PEM materials with hydrophilic-hydrophobic segments can significantly improve proton conductivity under low RH by forming enhanced hydrophilic domain connectivity. In this dissultation, novel multiblock copolymers based on disulfonated hydrophilic-hydrophobic multiblocks were synthesized and investigated for their potential application as PEMs. The relationship between copolymer chemical composition and resulting properties was probed with a variety of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments. Most multiblock copolymers in this research were developed with fully disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BPS100) as the hydrophilic segment, and various high performance polymers including polyimides, poly(arylene ether sulfone)s, and poly(arylene ether ketone)s as the hydrophobic segment. Ionic groups on the hydrophilic blocks act as proton conducting sites, while the non-ionic hydrophobic segments provide mechanical and dimensional stability. The correlation between the fuel cell performances and the hydrophilic-hydrophobic sequences was also evaluated. The morphological structures of the multiblock copolymers were investigated using tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The experiments demonstrated a well-defined nanophase separated morphology. Moreover, changes in block length had a pronounced effect on the development of phase separated morphology of the system. Proton conductivity measurements elucidated the transport process in the system, with the multiblock copolymers demonstrating higher conductivities compared to Nafion and random copolymer systems with similar ion exchange capacity (IEC) values. The new materials are strong candidates for use in PEM systems.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-05072009-123321en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05072009-123321/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/27574en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartHSLEE_ETD.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectpolyimideen
dc.subjectmorphologyen
dc.subjectmultiblock copolymeren
dc.subjectfuel cellen
dc.subjectpolybenzimidazoleen
dc.subjectdisulfonated copolymeren
dc.subjectproton exchange membraneen
dc.subjectpoly(arylene ether sulfone)en
dc.titleSynthesis and Characterization of Multiblock Copolymer Proton Exchange Membranes for High Temperature Fuel Cell Applicationsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineMacromolecular Science and Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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