Partially sulfonated polystyrene and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) blend membranes for fuel cells

Abstract

Based on the Flory-Huggins parameters (chi), the miscibility and the effect of morphological change on proton conductivity and methanol permeability of partially sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (SPPO), having an identical ion exchange capacity, were investigated. When 50 wt.-% of SPPO was blended, both the proton conductivity and methanol permeability had the highest values, which resulted from the change of amorphous domains and the hydrogen binding between the two ionomers.