Polycyclotriphosphazene Derivative Grafted and NanometerY₂O₃ Doped SPEEK Composite Membrane for DMFC

Abstract

A type of polycyclotriphosphazene derivative (PCTPD), hexasulfanilic acid polycyclotriphosphazene (HSACP) and HSACP grafting SPEEK, sulfonated poly[2-(petachloropolycyclotriphosphazene-oxy)] etheretherketone (SPPSACPEEK) were synthesized, which were characterized by FTIR and $^{31}P$ NMR. Then three types of composite membranes such as HSACP grafting SPEEK, HSACP blending SPEEK, and nano $Y_2O_3$ doping and HSACP grafting SPEEK, respectively, were continuously prepared by solution-casting method. Comparing to SPEEK membranes with different amount of HSACP grafted or blended, grafting 15 wt% HSACP and doping 10 wt% nano $Y_2O_3$ SPEEK membrane conducted outstanding overall behavior of proton conductivity reaching $3.18 {\times}10^{-2}$ S/cm at $90^{\circ}C$ which was merely junior to SPEEK with 15 wt% HSACP grafted, methanol permeability coefficient getting $9.46{\times}10^{-8}cm^2{\cdot}s^{-1}$, swelling degree of 20.9% and solid residue of 98.98% which was superior to all specimen.

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, it is widely thought proton conductivity, methanol permeability coefficient and swelling degree play an important role for proton exchange membranes.1 Mikhailenko et al.23 have reported that sulfonated poly-etheretherketone (SPEEK) with high degree of sulfonation (DS) could reach high proton conductivity and methanol permeability coefficient, which wasn’t preferable in terms of its application. As a result, rare earth oxide such as yttrium oxide (Y2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2) and cerium oxide (CeO2) has been used to improve SPEEK integrative properties because of their broad transparency, excellent physical and chemical stability.45 Tong et al.6 have prepared the SPEEK/Y2O3 composite membranes and concluded that coordination bonds existed between yttrium cation of Y2O3 and oxygen anion of sulfonic groups characterized by FTIR and XRD, which showed good effect on methanol resistance while reducing proton conductivity in the long run.

On the other hand, ionic liquid composed of organic cations and organic or inorganic anions at room temperature7 is considered scientific hotspot, which aimed at upgrading proton conductivity of SPEEK. Chen et al.8 improved SPEEK integrative properties by doping 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate (EB) or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole methanesulfonate (BS) and dispersed Y2O3 into system. Consequently, proton conductivity of SPEEK/EB/Y2O3 composite membrane was above 10−2 S/cm at 90 °C. However, it is so easy for ionic liquid to run off that modified SPEEK membranes deserved ineffective910 and most ionic liquid is hydrophilic which is beneficial to proton conduction but detrimental to methanol resistance and anti-swelling degree.

Due to the superior flexibility of backbones and diversity of side groups, PCTPD are expected to emerge as novel membrane materials for direct membranes fuel cells (DMFC). Allcock11 has synthesized poly [(4-bromophenoxy) (3- methyl-phenoxy)] phosphazene and its proton conductivity was approximately 10−2 S/cm, methanol permeability coefficient was little lower than Dupont Nafion115 membranes. In this paper, HSACP was used for promoting proton productivity by grafting and blending SPEEK, then doping nano Y2O3 to reduce methanol permeability coefficients and swelling degree.

 

MATERIALS AND MEMBRANE SPECIMENS

Synthesis of SPEEK Grafted by HSACP

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was obtained from Chemistry Department of Jilin University (Jilin, China) in the form of particle and SPEEK was prepared as reported earlier.1213 After getting SPEEK with DS of 64.10%, NaBH4 from Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China) was utilized to accomplish carbonyl reduction of SPEEK at 100 °C, 24 h for synthesis of sulfonated poly [2-hydroxy] etheretherketone (R-SPEEK) (Fig. 1, 1-1). Subsequently, sulfonated poly [2-(petachloropolycyclotriphosphazene-oxy)] etheretherketone (SPPCPEEK) was synthesized by adding R-SPEEK solution into hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) (laboratory self-synthesized) dissolving in DMAC at iced-water atmosphere for 20 h with mechanical stirring (Fig. 1, 1-2). After that, certain amount of hexasulfanilic acid (SA) from Aladdin Reagent Co. Ltd. (Japan) was put into SPPCPEEK solution to synthesize sulfonated poly [2-(petasulfanilicacidpolycyclotriphosphazene- oxy)] etheretherketone (SPPSACPEEK) (Fig. 1, 1-3) under ultrasonic firstly then at 60 °C for 4 h.

Figure 1.Synthesis of SPPSACPEEK.

Preparation of Membranes

Composite membranes were obtained by casting their viscous solution onto a glass plate and thickness of the dried composite membranes was about 100 μm. Accordingly, three kinds of membranes were prepared namely HSACP grafting SPEEK, HSACP blending SPEEK, and nano Y2O3 doping and HSACP grafting SPEEK. HSACP was synthesized by reacting HCCP with SA shown in Fig. 2 and its experimental condition was identical with reaction (1-3) in Fig. 1.

Figure 2.Synthesis of HSACP.

Different compositions of membranes were described in Table 1, where “GR”, “B” and “Y” represented HSACP grafting SPEEK, HSACP blending SPEEK and Y2O3 doping respectively, and the subsequent values of “GR” in codes GR2, GR5, GR8, GR10, GR15, GR15Y01, GR15Y05 and GR15Y10 indexed grafting degree weight percent of SPEEK (e.g., GR15 represented system with 15 wt% HSACP grafting SPEEK), and that of “Y” indexed weight percent of Y2O3 (e.g., GR15Y10 represented system with 15 wt% HSACP grafting SPEEK and 10 wt% nano Y2O3 doped).

Table 1.Contents of membrane specimens

 

EXPERIMENTAL

Analysis Methods of Material Structure and Membrane Surface Morphology

Structural characterization were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) and 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (31P NMR). The FTIR spectra of specimens were recorded with AVATAR370 Infrared Spectrometer (Thermo Nicolet Instrument Co., USA) while 1H NMR and 31P NMR with AVANCE 500MHz (Bruker, Switzerland). All the specimens were liquid (before preparation of membranes) so we painted them on glass plate directly for FTIR and chose deuterium dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO-d6) as solvent for 1H NMR and 31P NMR.

The morphology of membrane surface was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) HITACHI S-4800 (Tokyo, Japan). The specimens were pretreated by freezing the dry membranes in liquid nitrogen. The fresh cryogenic fracture of the membrane specimens was sputtered with a thin layer of Au in vacuum prior to SEM measurements.

Testing Method of Proton Conductivity

Proton conductivity of membrane specimens in the traverse direction was tested in a measurement cell using AC Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), which was composed of a Solartron Instruments 1287 electrochemical interface and a Solartron Instruments 1255B frequency response analyzer (Farnborough, UK), both of which were interfaced via GPIB to a computer. The EIS recorded over a frequency range of 1−106 Hz. The amplitude of the sinusoidal modulation voltage was 10 mV, and the testing temperature ranged from 30 to 90 °C. The resistance of membranes was measured and the proton conductivity was calculated as described in the reference.13

Testing Method of Methanol Permeability Coefficient

Methanol permeability coefficient of membrane specimen was determined by a home-made diaphragm diffusion cell, which was amply described in reference.14 The membranes were immersed in de-ionized water at room temperature for 24 h before testing, and both thickness and area of wet membrane specimens were measured. Thereafter, membrane specimens were placed in diffusion cell for the measurement of methanol permeability. 70 ml 5 mol/L methanol solution was placed in one side of the diffusion cell and de-ionized water of the same volume was placed in the other side. The methanol permeability coefficient was calculated by the second of law of Fick’s diffusion as showed below (Equation 1).

Testing Method of Swelling Degree and Thermal Stability

Swelling degree (Sd) was calculated by measuring the volume difference between the dry and hydrous membrane specimens.1213 The dried membranes were measured volume (Vdry) before being immersed in de-ionized water for 24 h at 30 °C, 50 °C, 70 °C and 90 °C respectively. After that, the membranes were wiped with blotting paper to remove the surface water and measured (Vwet) again. The Sd was calculated by the following equation:

Thermal stability of membranes was evaluated by recording thermo-gravimetric (TG) traces in nitrogen atmosphere (Q500, TA Company, USA). Heating rate of 10 °C/min. Temperature ranges from 10 °C to 600 °C and sample weights from 3 to 7 mg in the form of membrane were used for recording TG traces.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Structural Analysis

Comparing SPEEK with R-SPEEK spectra in Fig. 3, both of them possessed characteristic peaks at 1650 cm−1 for −Ar−C(=O)−Ar−, 1118 cm−1 for −Ar−O−, 1226 cm−1 for O=S=O asymmetric stretching vibration, 1080 cm−1 and 740 cm−1 for O=S=O and S=O symmetric stretching vibration respectively. However, there appeared a wide absorption peak around 3400 cm−1 in R-SPEEK spectra corresponded to O-H stretching vibration. Because the amount of sulfonic groups remained unchanged after reaction (1-1) in Fig. 1, we cited internal standard method to calculate degree of carbonyl reduction,15 namely dividing absorption peak areas at 1650 cm−1 (−C=O) with 1080 cm−1 (−SO3H) before and after reaction. Therefore, we got degree of SPEEK carbonyl reduction as 29.8% according to the following equation (3):

Figure 3.FTIR spectra of HSACP, SPEEK and modified SPEEK.

Figure 4.1H NMR spectra of R-SPEEK and 31P NMR spectra of HSACP and modified SPEEK.

While it turned to 1H NMR characterization of R-SPEEK in Fig. 4, absorption peaks between 7.0 ppm and 8.0 ppm indexed hydrogen protons of R-SPEEK benzene rings. The weak absorption peak at 5.7 ppm corresponded to hydrogen of tertiary carbon certified structure changing partially from −Ar−C(=O)−Ar− to −Ar.CH(−OH)−Ar−.

Moreover, Fig. 3 also included the FTIR spectra of SPPCPEEK. Besides characteristic peaks of SPEEK mentioned above, absorption peaks appeared at 527 cm−1 and 605 cm−1 for different conformation of P−Cl, 947 cm−1 for P−O stretching vibration, 870 cm−1 for P−N absorption and 1217 cm−1 for P=N stretching vibration. Thus, auxiliary to evidence from 31P NMR spectra of SPPCPEEK, where existed phosphorus atoms of two kind of chemical environments. One chemical shift at 19.8 ppm was for five P−Cl while the other at 9.6 ppm for one P−O within one cyclo-triphosphazene ring. As a result, HCCP proved to be grafted onto SPEEK backbones.

To improve proton conductivity and system stability, SA reacted with SPPCPEEK to increase numbers of sulfonic groups and benzene rings. According to Fig. 3, spectra of SPPSACPEEK still included characteristic peaks of SPPCPEEK except for P−Cl stretching vibration at 527 cm−1 and 605 cm−1 which demonstrated the fact all chlorine atoms were substituted by SA. Absorption peak between 3400 cm−1 and 3450 cm−1 was for N−H stretching vibration, 1490 cm−1 and 1580 cm−1 were for benzene rings. Fig. 4 showed 31P NMR spectra of SPPSACPEEK where two kinds of chemical shift were caught. One at 7.4 ppm was for phosphorus atoms connected with SA while the other at 9.6 ppm was with SPEEK backbones. In contrast to 31P NMR spectra of SPPCPEEK, there was no chemical shift for SPPSACPEEK at 19.8 ppm which proved chlorine atoms were substituted by SA once more.

As for synthesis of HSACP, absorption peaks at 870 cm−1 and 1217 cm−1 were for polycyclotriphosphazene rings, 1490 cm−1 and 1640 cm−1 were for −NH−Ar−, 710 cm−1, 1020 cm−1, 1092 cm−1 and 1250 cm−1 were for sulfonic groups. Stretching vibration peak at 3370 cm−1 suggested N−H stretching vibration. 31P NMR characterization proved there only existed one kind chemical atmosphere at 7.62 ppm corresponded to −P−NH−.16

Proton Conductivity of Membranes

Since proton conductivity played an important role in application for DMFC, its value should reach 10−2 S/cm above. Proton conductivity of SPEEK and SPPSACPEEK membranes were measured from 20 to 90 °C shown in Fig. 5. With increasing temperature, proton conductivity of all specimens improved considerably since activity of proton was strengthened to enhance the efficiency of conduction in the membranes. As more HSACP being grafted, proton conductivity advanced more fiercely at the same temperature. Especially for specimen GR15, its productivity was over 10−2 S/cm at 40 °C even reached 4.81×10−2 S/cm at 90 °C. From one way, with more HSACP being grafted, sulfonic groups on SPPSACPEEK side chains might generate wide range of transmission channels with ones on backbones which facilitated speed and efficiency of proton conduction and hydrogen bonds interaction bridged between sulfonic and amino groups.17 From another way, long pair electrons of nitrogen atoms in HSACP contributed to adhesion of water molecules that ensured proton flopping, where HSACP encouraged separation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases to reduce difficulty of proton conduction.

Figure 5.Proton conductivity of SPEEK and SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Figure 6.Proton conductivity of SPEEK and HSACP blending SPEEK membranes.

In contrast to Fig. 5, proton conductivity of B05 and B10 in Fig. 6 could be divided into two parts although their values were always under 10−2 S/cm at whatever temperature. When it rose from 20 to 60 °C, proton conductivity upgraded apparently and the mechanism was likely to the one mentioned in Fig. 5. As temperature continuously rose up to 90 °C, both of their conductivity ceased to upgrade directly and reached almost same values with pure SPEEK because bond energy of physical interaction was so weak that thermal energy would destroyed transmission channels generated in blending system and HSACP was doomed to running off.

It was concluded that grafting HSACP was far more effective than doping one on enhancement of proton conductivity. Therefore, Y2O3 was doped into SPPSACPEEK system for further research on conductivity promotion. Fig. 7 displayed the same trend as Fig. 5 that proton conductivity upgraded from 20 to 90 °C. However, conductivity of specimen GR15Y05 and GR15Y10 was little lower than GR15 from 70 to 90 °C which was near to operating temperature of proton exchange membranes. As was drawn in Fig. 8, nanoY2O3 mostly dispersed around side chains where were abundant in sulfonic clusters then the sulfonic groups on the backbones took more responsibility for proton conduction because of steric hindrance of side groups that made Y2O3 uneasily act on backbones. Moreover, volume effect caused by Y2O3 might also be possibly to influence proton conduction a little. Consequently, adding little amount of Y2O3 didn’t detract from its proton conductivity remarkably from 70 to 90 °C since pure SPEEK with high DS was good at proton conduction.23

Figure 7.Proton conductivity of SPEEK and Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Figure 8.Operation principle of Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Methanol Permeability Coefficients of Membranes

It was known that low methanol concentration was equal to small methanol permeability coefficients. Methanol concentration of SPEEK and SPPSACPEEK membranes was tested shown in Fig. 9. With the increase of grafting degree, methanol concentration upgraded simultaneously. At the same time, GR15 reached the highest methanol concentration but its value was only little higher among all specimens. Both sulfonic groups on side chains and ones on backbones would generate hydrophilic regions in membranes and this effect was in favor of methanol molecules running through membranes. Combined with Fig. 8, HSACP as side groups of SPSSACPEEK increased steric hindrance so as to relieve penetration of methanol molecules. Thus, Fig. 10 showed the same trend as Fig. 9 at all. After carefully comparing GR15 with B10 under the same horizon, GR15 had little lower methanol concentration than B10. Maybe this slight difference was caused by the effect of side groups.

Figure 9.Methanol concentration of SPEEK and SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Figure 10.Methanol concentration of SPEEK and HSACP blending SPEEK membranes.

As experienced above, grafting modification behaved relatively better than doping one in terms of proton conductivity and methanol permeability coefficients. Since GR15 had the highest proton conductivity from 20 to 90 °C, defined amount of nano Y2O3 was doped to enhance its methanol resistance based on the conclusion that small amount of Y2O3 shouldn’t decrease proton conductivity substantially. In Fig. 11 within the same time, methanol concentration of GR15Y01 was still higher than pure SPEEK but little lower than GR15 which demonstrated the fact that Y2O3 was good at methanol resistance but not dominant in system. As for GR15Y05 and GR15Y10, their methanol resistance enhanced apparently especially for latter one compared with GR15. It was reported1718 that coordination bonds existed between sulfonic groups and Y2O3, which largely destroyed hydrophilic regions around side chains rather than ones near backbones in reference to Fig. 8 and this effect made penetration of methanol molecules through SPPSACPEEK membranes harder. Moreover, as was shown in Fig. 12, Y2O3 dispersed evenly in SPPSACPEEK membranes which helped to strengthen density of membranes for preventing the penetration of methanol molecules. Owing to the reasons above, methanol permeability coefficient of specimen GR15Y10 reached 9.46×10−8 cm2·s−1 calculated by Equation 1.

Figure 11.Methanol concentration of SPEEK and Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Swelling Degree of Membranes

SPEEK proton exchange membranes should also possess good anti-swelling property because cathode of DMFC was mainly filled with water and over-swelling degree would shorten its service life. In Fig. 13, swelling degree was accelerated remarkably especially for specimen GR15 with increasing temperature. Since GR15 membrane was abundant in sulfonic groups, it deserved to absorb plenty of water and thermal energy would push that process happening then led to high swelling degree. As a result, GR15 began to swell at 50 °C and reached swelling degree of 73.8% at 90 °C. Meanwhile, Fig. 14 had the same tendency as Fig. 13 even B10 reached swelling degree of 89.9% at 90 °C because thermal energy ruined physical interaction between SPEEK and HSACP, which resulted in HSACP unevenly dispersed in SPEEK membranes. This consequence would easily cause local over-water absorption and high swelling degree.

When it occurred to Fig. 15, there was no doubt that GR15Y10 displayed the best anti-swelling property, even at 90 °C, its swelling degree was just 20.9% and Y2O3 took effect not only to properly decrease number of sulfonic groups but also to disperse evenly in SPPSACPEEK membranes to avoid mass aggregation of water molecules in membranes.

Figure 12.SEM photographs of 10 wt% Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Figure 13.Swelling degree of SPEEK and SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Figure 14.Swelling degree of SPEEK and HSACP blending SPEEK membranes.

Figure 15.Swelling degree of SPEEK and Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Figure 16.Thermal stability of SPEEK and Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes.

Thermal Stability of Membranes

SPEEK proton exchange membranes worked at 90 °C in DMFC normally. As discussed above, doping Y2O3 into grafting system was far more effective than doping it on enhancement of proton productivity, methanol resistance and swelling degree. Therefore, Fig. 16 showed thermal stability of SPEEK and Y2O3 doping SPPSACPEEK membranes. All specimen existed weight loss dividing into three stages. The first one took place around 150 °C largely caused by water and residual solvent evaporation while the second one happened around 400 °C caused by decomposition of sulfonic groups, breakage of P−O and P−N. Eventually, the third stage corresponded to decomposition of SPEEK backbones and ring-opening of phosphazene rings.

 

CONCLUSION

A type of polycyclotriphosphazene derivative (PCTPD), hexasulfanilic acid polycyclotriphosphazene (HSACP) and HSACP grafting SPEEK, sulfonated poly [2-(petachloropoly-cyclotriphosphazene-oxy)]etheretherketone (SPPSACPEEK) were synthesized, which were characterized by FTIR and 31P NMR. Then three types of composite membranes such as HSACP grafting SPEEK, HSACP blending SPEEK, and nano Y2O3 doping and HSACP grafting SPEEK, respectively, were continuously prepared by solution-casting method. Consequently, grafting 15 wt% HSACP onto SPEEK backbones reached proton conductivity of 4.81×10−2 S/cm at 90 °C because of great number of sulfonic groups derivative from HSACP, and continuously doping small amount of Y2O3 wouldn’t decrease proton conductivity remarkably. After different mass Y2O3 was doped into SPEEK systems with 15 wt% PCTPD grafted, these membranes showed extremely excellent methanol resistance and antiswelling ability.

To conclude, grafting 15 wt% PCTPD and doping 10 wt% nano Y2O3 to modify SPEEK at 90 °C performed on a quite satisfactory level with proton conductivity reaching 3.18×10−2 S/cm, methanol permeability coefficient getting 9.46×10−8 cm2·s−1, swelling degree of 20.98% and solid residue of 98.98%.