Synthesis and Characterization of Disulfonated Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone) Random Copolymers as Multipurpose Membranes for Reverse Osmosis and Fuel Cell Applications

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dc.contributor.authorArnett, Natalie Yolandaen
dc.contributor.committeechairMcGrath, James E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRiffle, Judy S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMoore, Robert Bowenen
dc.contributor.committeememberDillard, John G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHarrison, Williamen
dc.contributor.departmentMacromolecular Science and Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:09:01Zen
dc.date.adate2009-05-08en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:09:01Zen
dc.date.issued2009-03-26en
dc.date.rdate2012-03-27en
dc.date.sdate2009-04-06en
dc.description.abstractThe results described in this dissertation focus on the synthesis and utilization of several disulfonated poly(arylene ether) random copolymer membranes in fuel cell and reverse osmosis applications. Poly(arylene ether)s were prepared by direct step copolymerization using a third monomer 3,3–-disulfonated 4,4–-dichlorodiphenylsulfone. The membrane properties of a 4,4–-biphenol-based disulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer (BPS-35), optionally blended with various fluorine containing polymers or unsulfonated biphenol-based poly (arylene ether sulfone)s (Radel R) were investigated for fuel cell applications. Fluorine containing copolymers used included with 2,2–-hexafluoroisopropylidene 4,4–-biphenol based unsulfonated (6F-00) or disulfonated (6FS-35 and 6FS-60) PAES, hexafluoroisopropylidene biphenol based 4,4–-difluoro phenyl phosphine oxide) (6FPPO), and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (Kynar®). Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) images of the membranes with 10 wt% of fluorinated copolymers showed macroscopic phase separation. Good miscibility between the copolymers at low concentrations was also confirmed by the observation of only one glass transition temperature. Compared to the benchmark Nafion 1135, the 10wt% blends of the fluorinated copolymers afforded a considerable reduction in the methanol permeabilities, which is important for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The best DMFC performance with 0.5 M methanol fuel was illustrated with blends containing 10 wt% 6FS-00. At higher methanol concentrations (up to 2.0 M) BPS-35/6FS-00 (90/10) membranes outperformed both Nafion membranes. Blends of BPS-35 blends with 6FS-35 or Radel R were also used as RO membranes. The highest salt rejections of 97.2 and 98.0% were obtained from BPS35/Radel R (90:10) and BPS-35/6FS-35 (95:5) blends, respectively in the salt form. A systematic study of the preparation of BPS-20 random copolymer skin-core asymmetric membranes by diffusion induced phase separation (DIPS) from various polar aprotic solvent or cosolvent systems is reported. The best aprotic solvents to generate an asymmetric structure were NMP and DMAc whereas tetrahydrofuran (THF)/ formamide (FAm) (80/20 v/v) mixtures proved to be the best co-solvent systems. Acetone was the best non-solvent to prepare asymmetric membranes from both aprotic solvents and co-solvent mixtures. Overall, asymmetric membranes prepared from THF/FAm co-solvent mixtures illustrated the most stable phase separated morphology that was free of macrovoids. However, thicker skins (~5 μM) were formed due to the high volatility of THF. Therefore, ultra-thin skin thin film composites (TFC) based on BPS-20 in diethylene glycol (Di(EG) were prepared. Thermal treatment of these TFC was conducted at 90 °C and the addition of 20 wt% glycerin to the casting formulation helped to prevent pore collapse in the porous Udel polysulfone. A minimum of three coats was required to obtain a dense, smooth, and pinhole free skin layer. The generation of three dimensional (ternary) solubility parameter phase diagrams based on experimental data was formulated and a region of solubility based on the solubility parameters of the aprotic solvents and the different co-solvent systems was established for BPS-20.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-04062009-220556en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04062009-220556/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/26662en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartNatalieYArnettDisseratationMay72009.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectfuel cellen
dc.subjectreverse osmosisen
dc.subjectdisulfonated copolymersen
dc.subjectphase diagramsen
dc.subjectcopolymer blendsen
dc.subjectdiffusion induced phase separation (DIPS)en
dc.subjectasymmetric membranesen
dc.subjectproton exchange membraneen
dc.subjectthin film compositesen
dc.subjectpoly(arylene ether sulfone)en
dc.subjectrandomen
dc.subjectmorphologyen
dc.titleSynthesis and Characterization of Disulfonated Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone) Random Copolymers as Multipurpose Membranes for Reverse Osmosis and 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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