Ruiz Colón, Eduardo

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    Poly(styrene-isobutylene-styrene) nanocomposite membranes for fuel cell devices and specialty separation applications
    (2018-05) Ruiz Colón, Eduardo; Suleiman Rosado, David; College of Engineering; Padovani, Agnes; Estévez, L. Antonio; Bogere, Moses; Acevedo, Aldo; Department of Chemical Engineering; López, Martha L.
    Ionic domains were incorporate into sulfonated poly(styrene–isobutylene–styrene) (SO3H SIBS) in an effort to improve the transport properties of the functionalized aromatic block copolymer. The resulting polymer nanocomposite membranes (PNMs) were employed for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and chemical and biological protective clothing (CBPC) applications. In order to accomplish that, a comprehensive materials characterization was performed per each study to determine the effect of the addition of the ionic domains in the properties of the prepared PNMs. Additives included isopropyl phosphate (IP), functionalized singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and graphene oxide (GO). Also SIBS was phosphonated via ATRP (Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization) grafting of poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA) followed by sulfonation. The transport properties of the PNMs were determined as a function of sulfonation level, SIBS functionalization, additive loading and functionalization. The thermal and oxidative stability was not significantly affected after addition of the nanofillers. Nonetheless, significant differences in the chemical, physical, and transport properties of the PNMs were observed after incorporation of the additives or functionalization of SIBS. It was found indicate that the sulfonation level dictates the water absorption capabilities (i.e., water uptake, swelling ratio, types of water, and water content), morphology, and oxidative stability of the PNMs; meanwhile, nanofiller type, functionalization and loading, along with the chemical functionalization of the copolymer influenced the transport properties (e.g., methanol permeability, proton conductivity, effective proton mobility, and effective vapor permeability). Unique interactions arose between the ionic groups that enhanced the selectivity of SO3H SIBS for the studied applications.