A novel sPEEK nanocomposite membrane with well-controlled sPOSS aggregation in tunable nanochannels for fast proton conduction.

To greatly increase the proton conductivity of a sPEEK nanocomposite membrane without water swelling problems, sulfonated PEEK (sPEEK) nanocomposite membranes were prepared by regulating the nanocomposite concentration of sulfonated POSS (sPOSS). Incorporation of sPOSS into sPEEK afforded a 39% increase in proton conductivity at 80 °C/100% RH and a 70% increase in cell performance at 1.5 wt% sPOSS concentration.

An enhanced electrochemical and cycling properties of novel boronic Ionic liquid based ternary gel polymer electrolytes for rechargeable Li/LiCoO cells.

A new generation of boronic ionic liquid namely 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium difluoro(oxalate)borate (EMImDFOB) was synthesized by metathesis reaction between 1-ethyl-3-methylimiazolium bromide and lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate (LiDFOB). Ternary gel polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared using electrolyte mixture EMImDFOB/LiDFOB with poly vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-co-HFP) as a host matrix by facile solvent-casting method and plausibly demonstrated its feasibility to use in lithium ion batteries. Amongst ternary gel electrolyte membrane, DFOB-GPE3, which contained 80 wt% of EMImDFOB/LiDFOB and 20 wt% PVdF-co-HFP, showed excellent electrochemical and cycling behaviors.

A Rapid One-Pot Synthesis of Novel High-Purity Methacrylic Phosphonic Acid (PA)-Based Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Frameworks via Thiol-Ene Click Reaction.

Herein, we demonstrate a facile methodology to synthesis a novel methacrylic phosphonic acid (PA)-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) via thiol-ene click reaction using octamercapto thiol-POSS and ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate (EGMP) monomer. The presence of phosphonic acid moieties and POSS-cage structure in POSS-S-PA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H, Si and P-NMR) analyses. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrum of POSS-S-PA acquired in a dithranol matrix, which has specifically designed for intractable polymeric materials.

Proton conductive nano-channel membranes based on polyaniline with phosphonic acid moieties for low relative humidity.

Most sulfonic acid based-membranes come to the limit because of high cost and low performance at low relative humidity (RH). Therefore, we synthesized phosphonic acid functionalized polyaniline (PA-PANI). PANI was used as polymer back bone because of excellent chemical mechanical stability and easy synthesis from relatively cheap monomer, and phosphonic acid presents the relatively high proton conducting in nano-channel without water because of its self dissociation nature.

Plasticizing effect of K+ ions and succinonitrile on electrical conductivity of [poly(ethylene oxide)-succinonitrile]/KI-I2 redox-couple solid polymer electrolyte.

The plasticizing effect of the K(+) ions and succinonitrile on the electrical conductivity of a new redox-couple solid polymer electrolyte system, (1 - x)[0.5poly(ethylene oxide):0.5succinonitrile]:x[0.

Nafion/silane nanocomposite membranes for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been studied actively for both potable and stationary applications because it can offer high power density and be used only hydrogen and oxygen as environment-friendly fuels. Nafion which is widely used has mechanical and chemical stabilities as well as high conductivity. However, there is a drawback that it can be useless at high temperatures (> or = 90 degrees C) because proton conducting mechanism cannot work above 100 degrees C due to dehydration of membrane.

Characterization of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/silane nanocomposite membrane for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

The perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane is most widely used in PEMFCs. However, its some major drawbacks like high cost and performance limitation at high temperature are obstacles of its commercialization. The goal of this study was to develop low cost membranes which have good conductivity in the range of PEMFCs operating temperature.

Poly(dimethyl siloxane) membrane for high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Sulfonic acid-based membrane gives the relatively high conductivity only in the presence of water, but phosphoric acid presents the relatively high proton conductivity without water because of its self dissociation natures to develop high temperature PEMFCs. We synthesized the thermostable material that has phosphorous groups based on poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). PDMS, which is intrinsically hydrophobic was modified to be amphiphilic by substituting end groups with hydrophilic phosphorous groups.

Nanocrystalline porous TiO2 electrode with ionic liquid impregnated solid polymer electrolyte for dye sensitized solar cells.

This communication reports the detailed fabrication of electrodes and solid polymer electrolyte with ionic liquid (IL) as an electrolyte for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Thick porous TiO2 film has been obtained by spreading and sintering TiO2 colloidal paste using "doctor blade" and characterized by SEM, TEM and XRD. The polymer electrolyte was PEO:KI/I2 incorporated with 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate (EMImSCN) as IL.

Characterization of Nafion/zirconium sulphophenyl phosphate nanocomposite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells.

Layered structure zirconium sulphophenyl phosphate (ZrSPP) was prepared from the precipitation of Zr4+ ion and m-sulphophenyl phosphonic (SPP) acid at a mole ratio of P to Zr = 2.0. The reflective index measurement indicated that the methanol permeability of unmodified Nafion 117 was 2.