ABSTRACT — The polymers were prepared by Ni-catalyzed carbon-carbon coupling reaction of bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2-diphenylethylene (BCDPE) and 2,5-dichlorobenzophenone. Conjugated cis/trans isomer based BCDPE has a non-planar conformation containing the peripheral four aromatic rings which facilitate the formation of π-π interactions. Post sulfonation was carried out to add sulfonic acid groups by using concentrated sulfuric acid. These polymers without any ether linkages on polymer backbone, were presumably stable against nucleophilic attack by hydrogen peroxide, hydroxide anion, and radical generated by proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operation system. The number of sulfunic acid groups were controlled by varying the mole ratio of BCDPE monomers in synthesized copolymer. A series of membranes were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake (WU), and proton conductivity. The membranes’ thermal properties were investigated by thermo- gravimetric analysis (TGA) and also sulface morphologies were assessed by atomic force microscope (AFM).

Presenter : W. Kim