Designing the packing of polymer
chains with reasonable
fraction
free volume (FFV) is regarded as an effective way to improve the conductivity
of polymer-based membranes. We synthesize random polymers by copolymerization
of bulky rigid-twisted spirobiindane, isatin, and one of the joint
groups p-terphenyl, biphenyl, and 1,2-diphenylethane.
The polycondensation reaction is catalyzed by trifluoromethanesulfonic
acid. The introduced spirobiindane segments enlarge the distance of
polymer chains and increase the FFV of the membrane. The formation
of the microphase separation structure is evidenced according to the
results of transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.
As a result, a hydroxide conductivity of 126.7 mS cm–1 is achieved at 80 °C by the poly(spirobiindane diphenyl isatin)-based
membrane (QP(SBP/BP)-20). The retention rates in hydroxide ion conductivity
are 89.7 and 84.0% after soaking the membrane in 1 M KOH for 1152
h and in 4 M KOH for 628 h at 80 °C, respectively. The QP(SBP/BP)-20
membrane-based single-fuel cell exhibits an open-circuit voltage of
0.99 V and a peak power density of 744 mW cm–2 at
60 °C by fueling with humidified H2 and O2 with 0.05 MPa back pressure.