Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University ›› 2012, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (03): 498-503.

• Chemical Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Synthesis and Properties of Benzimidazole Group-Containing Sulfonated Polyimide Proton Exchange Membranes  

 XU  Hong, XU  Fan, ZHANG  Gui-Mei, MA  Rui, GUO  Xiao-Xia, FANG  Jian-Hua   

  1. (School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University,Shanghai 200240, China)
  • Received:2011-03-18 Online:2012-03-30 Published:2012-03-30

Abstract: A series of benzimidazole groupcontaining sulfonated polyimides (ImSPIs) were synthesized by condensation polymerization of 1,4,5,8naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA), two sulfonated diamines, 5amino(2(4aminophenyl)benzimidazole (APABI) and 9,9bis(4aminophenyl)fluorene (BAPF) in mcresol at 180 °C for 20 h. By controlling the molar ratio between the sulfonated diamine and other diamine monomers, ImSPIs with different IECs were obtained. Membranes with good mechanical strength were fabricated by solution cast method. These ImSPI membranes display high proton conductivities at high relative humidities which are comparable or higher than that of Nafion. The incorporation of imidazole groups to polymer structure results in significant improvement in radical oxidative stability but has little effect on the water stability of the membranes.  

Key words: proton exchange membrane, fuel cell, sulfonated polyimide, benzimidazole group, proton conductivity

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