• Membrane Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.290-296
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• 2013

Poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) P(VDF-co-CTFE) polymer was attached to methacrylic acid (MAA) in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene(DBU) catalyst to prepare P(VDF-co-CTFE)-MAA copolymer. The modified P(VDF-co-CTFE)-MAA was polymerized with 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate (SEMA) monomer in the presence of 4',4'-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid(ACVA) initiator by free radical polymerization to form the proton conducting membrane. The ratio of the SEMA was increased in the membrane to increase the presence of the acidic group. The maximum IEC value that was observed at 50% SEMA was around 0.82 meq/g, which is consistent with the water uptake value. The highest proton conductivity achieved by P(VDF-co-CTFE)-MAA/SEMA membrane with 50% SEMA was approximately 0.041 S/cm. This indicates that the available ionic group for the proton conduction increases with the increase in the SEMA in the membrane.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2004

Sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) with poly(phenylmethyl silsesquioxane, PPSQ) composite polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared and their proton conductivity, water uptake and methanol permeability of membranes were characterized. By controlling the ratio of $(CH_3)_3SCI\;and\;CISO_3H$ and reaction time, SPSF with $37\~75\%$ degree of sulfonation were synthesized. The increase of sulfonate groups in the base polymer resulted in the increase of the water uptake in the membranes as well as methanol permeability. Composite membranes were prepared by casting of DMF solution of SPSF and PPSQ. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane at room temperature was $2.8\times10^{-3}\~4.9\times10^{-2}S/cm.$ The increase of PPSQ contents in composite membranes resulted in a decrease in water uptake and methanol permeability. Composite membranes containing $5\%$ PPSQ did not make a significant effect on the proton conductivity nO methanol permeability compared with that of pristine SPSF, but a significant decrease of water uptake was observed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.115-119
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• 2002

고분자 전해질 연료전지는 전해질로 고체고분자막을 사용하는 연료전지로 고분자막은 수소 이온의 활발한 전달을 위해 일정량의 수분이 존재해야 한다. 따라서 연료전지의 운전 중에 고분자막은 항상 수화되어 있어야 하며 수분이 부족하게 되면 수소이온 전도도가 떨어지고, 막의 수축으로 인해 전극과 막 계면의 저항이 증가한다. 반대로 수분이 많이 존재하면 촉매 표면에 반응기체의 확산이 어려워져 전지 성능이 감소하게 된다.(중략)

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2004

The cesium hydrogen sulfate (CsHSO$_4$) crystal is a superprotonic conductor above 140$^{\circ}C$ and possesses protonic conductivity three to low orders of magnitude higher than that at room temperature. Recently, the possibility of it as an electrolyte material for fuel cell system draws much attention. However, its plasticity and absorption of humidity place a limitation on its application. In this study, composites consisting of CsHSO$_4$ and polyacrylonitrile were prepared, and their phase transition properties and the ionic conductivities were evaluated. When the content of CsHSO$_4$ was about 80 vol%, a mechanically strong film with the protonic conductivity of 1${\times}$10$\^$-3/ Scm$\^$-1/ were made.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2014

Cation exchange membrane (Nafion) was modified to reduce the vanadium ion permeation through the membrane and to increase the vanadium redox flow battery (VRB) system performance by coating the graphene oxide (GO) which has nano-plate like morphology. Modified membrane properties were studied by measuring the ion exchange capacity (I.E.C), water uptake and proton conductivity. The thickness of the coated layer on the surface of the Nafion membrane was observed as $0.93{\mu}m$ by SEM. Proton conductivity and vanadium ion permeability of the modified membrane were decreased to 27% and 25% compared to that of the commercial Nafion membrane respectively. VRB single cell performance test was performed to compare the system performance of the VRB applied with commercial Nafion membrane and modified membrane. VRB system applied with modified membrane showed higher coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency than the VRB system applied with the commercial Nafion membrane due to the reduction of the vanadium ion permeation. From these result, we could suggest that the membrane modification by coating the GO on the surface of the Nafion membrane could be one of the promising strategies to reduce the vanadium ion permeation and to increase the VRB system performance effectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2003

Poly(ether ether ketone)(PEEK) was sulfonated using sulfuric acid and blended with polysulfone with various ratios. The blended polymer electrolyte membranes were characterized in terms of methanol permeability, proton conductivity and ion exchange capacity. As the amount of sulfonated PEEK increased, both methanol permeability and proton conductivity increased. This was due to the increase of ion exchange capacity. The experimental results indicated that the blend membrane with 20% polysulfone was the best choice In terms of the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Polymer electrolyte membranes containing polysilsesquioxane (PSQ) spheres were prepared with the blend of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) (60%) and poly(ether sulfone) (PES) (40%). The amount of PSQ spheres was fixed at 10 wt%. The prepared polymer electrolyte membranes were characterized in terms of methanol permeability, proton conductivity, and ion exchange capacity. In all cases, both methanol permeability and proton conductivity of the polymer electrolyte membranes containing PSQ spheres were lower than the values of Nafion 117 and higher than those of SPEEK/PES (6:4) blend without PSQ spheres. The experimental results indicated that the polymer electrolyte membranes containing MS64 and VTMOS spheres were the best choice in terms of the ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2008

This work demonstrates the preparation of proton conducting crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes by blending polystrene-b-poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PS-b-PHEA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at 1 : 1 wt ratio. The PHEA block of the diblock copolymer was crosslinked with PVA using sulfosuccinic acid (SA) via the esterification reaction between -OH of membrane and -COOH of SA, as confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Ion exchange capacity (IEC) continuously increased from 0.14 to 0.91 meq/g with increasing concentrations of SA, due to the increasing portion of charged groups in the membrane. In contrast, the water uptake increased up to 20.0 wt% of SA concentration above which it decreased monotonically. The membrane also exhibited a maximum proton conductivity of 0.024 S/cm at 20.0 wt% of SA concentration. The maximum behavior of water uptake and proton conductivity is considered to be due to competitive effect between the increase of ionic sites and the crosslinking reaction according to the SA concentration.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2009

A comb-like copolymer consisting of a poly(vinyl chloride) backbone and poly(hydroxy ethyl acrylate) side chains, i.e. PVC-g-PHEA, was synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This comb-like copolymer was crosslinked with 4,5-imidazole dicarboxylic acid (IDA) via the esterification of the -OH groups of PHEA in the graft copolymer and the -COOH groups of IDA. Upon doping with phosphoric acid (PA, $H_3PO_4$) to form imidazole-PA complexes, the proton conductivity of the membranes continuously increased with increasing PA content. A maximum proton conductivity of 0.011 S/cm was achieved at $100^{\circ}C$ under anhydrous conditions. The PVC-g-PHEA/IDA/PA complex membranes exhibited good mechanical properties, i.e. 575 MPa of Young's modulus, as determined by a universal testing machine (UTM). Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the membranes were thermally stable up to $200^{\circ}C$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to compare the water channel morphology and the proton conductivity by changing the number of repeating units of the polymer backbone of PEMs, and to present a criterion for selecting an appropriate polymer model for MD simulation. In the model with the shortest polymer main chain, the movement of the main chain and the sulfonic acid group was observed to be large, but no change in the water channel morphology was found. In addition, due to the nature of the proton transport ability that is most affected by the water channel morphology, the proton conductivity did not show a significant correlation with the length of the polymer backbone. These results provide important information, particularly for the preparation of ionomers for binders. In general, a low molecular weight polymer electrolyte material is used for a binder ionomer. Since the movement of the main chain/sulfonic acid group is improved, it can play a role of enclosing the catalyst layer well. However, there is no change in its proton conducting performance. In conclusion, the preparation of ionomers for binders will require molecular weight and structure design with a focus on physical properties rather than proton transfer performance.