ELASTIC SULFONATED STYRENE DIENE BLOCK COPOLYMERS

Abstract

The electrochemical energy conversion system include an anode, a cathode, and a proton exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The proton exchange membrane includes a polymer having a hard block polymer, a soft block polymer, and one or more hydrophilic functional groups attached to the soft block polymer. The glass transition temperature of the hard block polymer is higher than a glass transition temperature of the soft block polymer, such that the hard block polymer is non-elastic and the soft block polymer is elastic at a desired operating temperature. The hydrophilic functional groups are attached to the soft block polymer via a thiol-ene reaction to modify double bonds in the soft block polymer. The swellable functional groups are selectively connected to the soft domains of the block copolymers, so that when the membrane swells (under hydration or gas adsorption), the stress is effectively absorbed by the soft domain and the impact on overall mechanical properties is minor, resulting in more durable membranes.

Claims

1. A proton exchange membrane material comprising a polymer according to formula I: ##STR00004## wherein R1 a hard block polymer, R2 is a soft block polymer, and R3 includes one or more hydrophilic functional groups; wherein a glass transition temperature of the hard block polymer is higher than a glass transition temperature of the soft block polymer.

2. The material according to claim 1, wherein the glass transition temperature of the hard block polymer is greater than or equal to 100° C.

3. The material according to claim 1, wherein the hard block polymer is polystyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, polysulfone, poly(phenylene oxide), poly(phenylene), or combinations thereof.

4. The material according to claim 1, wherein the soft block polymer is polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or combinations thereof.

5. The material according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic functional group is a sulfonate group.

6. The material according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic functional group is attached to the soft block polymer via a thiol-ene reaction to modify a double bond in the soft block polymer.

7. The material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer includes the structure according to formula II: ##STR00005## wherein a is about 20 mol % and b is about 80 mol %.

8. A method of making a proton exchange membrane material, the method comprising: providing a reaction medium including a copolymer chain, the copolymer chain including a hard block polymer and a soft block polymer; attaching a functional group to the soft block polymer; saturating the soft block polymer; and oxidizing the functional group.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein attaching a functional group to the soft block polymer includes: performing a thiol-ene reaction to attach a thioester group to the soft block polymer.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein saturating the soft block polymer includes: hydrogenating the soft block polymer; crosslinking the copolymer chain with other copolymer chains; or combinations thereof.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the glass transition temperature of the hard block polymer is higher than a glass transition temperature of the soft block polymer.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein a glass transition temperature of the hard block polymer is greater than or equal to 100° C.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the hard block polymer is polystyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, polysulfone, poly(phenylene oxide), poly(phenylene), or combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the soft block polymer is polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or combinations thereof.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein oxidizing the functional group includes: oxidizing the sulfur of the thioester group to a sulfonate.

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein the material includes the structure according to formula II: ##STR00006## wherein a is about 20 mol % and b is about 80 mol %.

17. An electrochemical energy conversion system comprising: an anode; a cathode; and a proton exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, the proton exchange membrane including a polymer according to formula I: ##STR00007## wherein R1 a hard block polymer, R2 is a soft block polymer, and R3 includes one or more hydrophilic functional groups; wherein a glass transition temperature of the hard block polymer is higher than a glass transition temperature of the soft block polymer.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the hard block polymer is a polystyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, polysulfone, poly(phenylene oxide), poly(phenylene), or combinations thereof; the soft block polymer is polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or combinations thereof.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the hydrophilic functional group is a sulfonate group.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the polymer includes the structure according to formula II: ##STR00008## wherein a is about 20 mol % and b is about 80 mol %.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The drawings show embodiments of the disclosed subject matter for the purpose of illustrating the invention. However, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an electrochemical energy conversion system including a proton exchange membrane according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2A is a chart of a method for making a proton exchange membrane according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 2B is a chart showing reactions for making a proton exchange membrane according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2C is a chart showing reactions for making a proton exchange membrane according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 2D is a chart showing reactions for making a proton exchange membrane according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 1A, aspects of the disclosed subject matter include an electrochemical energy conversion system 100 comprising an anode 102, a cathode 104, and an electrolyte 106 disposed between the anode and the cathode. System 100 is suitable for use in numerous applications, such as fuel cells, energy recovery ventilation systems, water electrolysis systems, electrochemical hydrogen compressors, batteries, sensors, actuators, etc. In some embodiments, anode 102 and cathode 104 are composed of any suitable material for use with electrolyte 106 in system 100. In some embodiments, system 100 includes any inlets/outlets 108 to supply reactants to and remove reaction products from anode 102, cathode 104, and electrolyte 106. In some embodiments, system 100 includes a catalyst layer (not pictured).

[0015] In some embodiments, electrolyte 106 is a solid electrolyte. In some embodiments, electrolyte 106 is proton exchange membrane 110. Proton exchange membrane 110 includes a block copolymer composed of alternating hard and soft domains. In some embodiments, the block copolymer is composed of at least a first block polymer and at least a second block polymer. In some embodiments, the first block polymer is a hard block polymer. In some embodiments, the second block polymer is composed of a soft block polymer. In some embodiments, the block copolymer is composed of a plurality of substantially alternating hard block polymers and soft block polymers. In some embodiments, each hard block polymer in the block copolymer has the same composition. In some embodiments, the hard block polymers in the block copolymer have two or more different compositions. In some embodiments, each soft block polymer in the block copolymer has the same composition. In some embodiments, the soft block polymers in the block copolymer have two or more different compositions. In some embodiments, the block copolymers are crosslinked to other block copolymers, as will be discussed in greater detail below. In some embodiments, the soft block polymers make up at least 60 mol % of the block copolymer. In some embodiments, the soft block polymers make up at least 70 mol % of the block copolymer. In some embodiments, the soft block polymers make up at least 80 mol % of the block copolymer. In some embodiments, the soft block polymers make up at least 90 mol % of the block copolymer.

[0016] In some embodiments, the soft block polymer is functionalized with at least one polar group, e.g., an ionic group. In some embodiments, the at least one polar group is a hydrophilic functional group. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer includes a plurality of polar groups. In embodiments with a plurality of soft block polymers in the block copolymer, a plurality of soft block polymers are functionalized with at least one polar group. In some embodiments, proton exchange membrane 110 includes a polymer according to the following formula I:

##STR00002##

wherein R1 a hard block polymer, R2 is a soft block polymer, and R3 is or includes one or more hydrophilic functional groups.

[0017] As used herein, the terms “hard” and “soft” block polymers are used to mean that one block polymer is non-elastic (hard) and one block polymer is elastic (soft) at a desired operating temperature, e.g., room temperature, the operating temperature of a fuel cell, etc. In some embodiments, the hard block polymer has a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) that is higher than the glass transition temperature of the soft block polymer. In some embodiments, the overall T.sub.g of the plurality of hard block polymers in the block copolymer is higher than the overall T.sub.g of the plurality of soft block polymers in the block copolymer. In some embodiments, the hard block polymer has a T.sub.g above about 50° C. In some embodiments, the hard block polymer has a T.sub.g above about 75° C. In some embodiments, the hard block polymer has a T.sub.g above about 100° C. In some embodiments, the hard block polymer has a T.sub.g above about 150° C. In some embodiments, the hard block polymer includes polystyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, polysulfone, poly(phenylene oxide), poly(phenylene), or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer has a T.sub.g below about −0° C. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer has a T.sub.g below about −50° C. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer has a T.sub.g below about −100° C. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer includes a diene derivative. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer includes butadiene, isoprene, or combinations thereof.

[0018] In some embodiments, the polar group is attached to the block copolymer by chemical modification of a double bond in the soft block polymer. In some embodiments, the polar group is attached to the soft block polymer via a thiol-ene reaction to modify a double bond in the soft block polymer, as will be discussed in greater detail below. In some embodiments, the polar group is a sulfonate group, quaternary ammonium group, phosphonate group, alcohol, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the mol % of functionalized double bonds in the soft block polymer is above about 10%. In some embodiments, the mol % of functionalized double bonds in the soft block polymer is above about 20%. In some embodiments, the mol % of functionalized double bonds in the soft block polymer is above about 50%. In some embodiments, the mol % of functionalized double bonds in the soft block polymer is between about 10% and about 20%. In some embodiments, the mol % of functionalized double bonds in the soft block polymer is between about 20% and about 30%.

[0019] In some embodiments, the block copolymer is made from a styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene polymer (SBS) precursor. In some embodiments, the block copolymer includes the structure according to formula II:

##STR00003##

wherein a is about 10 mol % to about 30 mol % and b is about 70 mol % to about 90 mol %, and some of the double bonds in the soft block polymer have been chemically modified and sulfonate groups attached, while other double bonds in the soft block polymer are saturated. In some embodiments, a is about 20 mol % and b is about 80 mol %,

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 2A, some aspects of the disclosed subject matter include a method 200 of making a proton exchange membrane material. At 202, a reaction medium is provided that includes a copolymer chain. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the copolymer chain includes a hard block polymer and a soft block polymer. At 204, one or more functional groups are attached to the soft block polymer. In some embodiments, the functional group is attached to the soft block polymer by performing a thiol-ene reaction to attach a thioester group to the soft block polymer (attachment of another functional groups, e.g., quaternary ammonium via an amination reaction, is also contemplated by the present disclosure). At 206, the soft block polymer is saturated to remove double bonds therein. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer is saturated 206 via hydrogenation of the C═C bonds in the soft block polymer. In some embodiments, the soft block polymer is saturated 206 by crosslinking the block copolymer chain with other block copolymer chains. In some embodiments, the block copolymer chain is both hydrogenated and crosslinked. At 208, the functional group is oxidized. In some embodiments where the functional group is a sulfonate, the functional group is oxidized 208 by oxidizing the sulfur of a thioester group.

EXAMPLE

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 2B-2D, preparation of a proton exchange membrane material from a styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene polymer (SBS) as a precursor polymer is shown. Referring now to FIG. 2B, in some embodiments, the functional group is attached to the soft block polymer by performing a thiol-ene reaction to attach a thioester group to the soft block polymer (SBS-TA). The soft block polymer is then saturated via hydrogenation of the C═C bonds in the soft block polymer and the functional group is oxidized by oxidizing the sulfur of the thioester group. Referring now to FIG. 2C, in some embodiments, the soft block polymer is first saturated via hydrogenation of the C═C bonds in the soft block polymer and then the functional group is attached to the soft block polymer by performing a thiol-ene reaction to attach a thioester group to the soft block polymer (H-SBS-TA). The functional group is then oxidized by oxidizing the sulfur of the thioester group. The reactions of FIGS. 2B and 2C each give the same sulfonated product H-SBS-SO.sub.3H. Referring now to FIG. 2D, in some embodiments, the soft block polymer is saturated by crosslinking the block copolymer chain with other block copolymer chains. Crosslinking followed by oxidations of the thioester groups provides a mechanically more stable crosslinked polymer XL-SBS-SO.sub.3H.

[0022] Methods and systems of the present disclosure advantageously provide a variety of polar groups (including ionic groups) to the soft domains of nanostructured block copolymers. Selective functionalization of the soft block polymer chains with ionic groups does not disrupt the assembly behaviors of the hydrophobic rigid domain, so any mechanical effects on the membrane are minimal. Further, because the swellable polar groups are connected to the soft domains of the block copolymers, when the membrane swells (under hydration or gas adsorption), the stress is effectively absorbed by the soft domain and the impact on overall mechanical properties is minor, resulting in more durable membranes. The materials used in the present disclosure are inexpensive, allowing the membranes to be manufactured at reduced cost. Finally, the membranes according to the present disclosure have a wide range of uses, including electrochemical energy conversion such as fuel cells and selective permeation membranes for polar molecules such as CO.sub.2, water, and alcohol.

[0023] Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustrated with respect to embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined, rearranged, etc., to produce additional embodiments within the scope of the invention, and that various other changes, omissions, and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.