Synthesis of high proton conducting nanoparticles by emulsion polymerization

High ion-exchange capacity (IEC) sulfonated polystyrene nanoparticles were synthesized by an emulsion copolymerization of styrene, divinyl benzene and sulfonated styrene (SS). The effects of varying the counterion of the sulfonated styrene monomer, the SS concentration, the surfactant and the addition of a crosslinking agent on the ability to stabilize the emulsion nanoparticles to high IEC were studied. Water-insoluble nanoparticles, 20–160 nm in diameter, with IEC as high as 5.2 meq/g were achieved using sulfonated styrene with a quaternary alkyl ammonium cation, a non-ionic surfactant and a crosslinking agent in the emulsion formulation. That IEC corresponds to fully sulfonated crosslinked polystyrene.