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Article
A new sequence isomer of AB-polybenzimidazole for high-temperature PEM fuel cells
Article first published online: 28 OCT 2011
DOI: 10.1002/pola.25034
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Issue
Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry
Volume 50, Issue 2, pages 306–313, 15 January 2012
Additional Information
How to Cite
Gulledge, A. L., Gu, B. and Benicewicz, B. C. (2012), A new sequence isomer of AB-polybenzimidazole for high-temperature PEM fuel cells. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem., 50: 306–313. doi: 10.1002/pola.25034
Publication History
- Issue published online: 12 DEC 2011
- Article first published online: 28 OCT 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 3 OCT 2011
- Manuscript Received: 18 AUG 2011
Funded by
- BASF Fuel Cell Inc.
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- 2,2′-bisbenzimidazole-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid;
- AB-PBI;
- high temperature materials;
- i-AB-PBI;
- poly(2,5-benzimidazole);
- polybenzimidazole;
- polycondensation;
- polyelectrolytes;
- polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells;
- step growth polymerization
Abstract
A new sequence isomer of AB-polybenzimidazole (AB-PBI) was developed as a candidate for high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. A diacid monomer, 2,2′-bisbenzimidazole-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid, was synthesized and polymerized with 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminobiphenyl to prepare a polymer that was composed of repeating 2,5-benzimidazole units. In contrast to previously prepared AB-PBI, which contains only head-to-tail benzimidazole sequences, the new polymer also contains head-to-head and tail-to-tail benzimidazole sequences. The polymer was prepared in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and cast into membranes using the sol–gel PPA process. Membranes formed from the new AB-PBI were found to be mechanically stronger, possessed higher acid doping levels, and showed improved fuel cell performance, when compared to the previously known AB-PBI. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012