Preparation and characterization of sulfonated poly (ether sulfone)s containing hexabenzocoronene graphene moiety for PEMF

The novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s containing hexabenzocoronene moiety that is partial graphene structure (SPGHPs) for polymer electrolyte membrane were synthesized and characterized their properties. Graphene is an allotrope of carbon and one-atom-thick planar sheets of sp2-bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice. Poly(ether sulfone)s containing hexaphenylbenzenes on polymer backbone were synthesized by poly condensation and followed intra-cyclization by friedel-craft reaction with lewis acid (FeCl3) to form partial graphene structure. The sulfonation was taken selectively on hexabenzocoronen units with concentrated sulfuric acid. The structure properties of the sulfonated polymers were investigated by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The resulted ion exchange capacities (IEC) were 1.09~1.61 meq./g. The water uptakes were 8.84~15.27% at 30 °C and 18.27%~42.38% at 80 °C with changing the ion exchange capacities. The SPGHP membranes exhibit proton conductivities (80 °C, RH 90) of 78.3~105.7 mS/cm compared with 106.2 mS/cm of Nafion 211®.