Synthesis, and structural and thermal characterizations of tetrasulfonated poly(arylene biphenylsulfone ether) copolymer ion conducting electrolytes

High molecular weight tetrasulfonated poly(arylene biphenylsulfone ether) (TsPBPSEH) copolymers containing up to four pendant sulfonate groups per repeat unit were synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic displacement condensation from 4,4'-bis(4-chloro-3-sulfonatophenylsulfonyl)biphenyl-2,2'-disulfonate (SBCSBPD), 4,4'- dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS) and 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol (6F-BPA). The synthesized copolymers were structurally characterized using 1H NMR and FT-IR techniques. They were analytically pure, amorphous and were readily soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. Electrolyte membranes were successfully cast using the synthesized polymers with various sulfonation levels and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. This new class of polymer membranes exhibited elevated thermal and physical stabilities and reduced swelling at high temperatures. An increase of acidic functional groups in the copolymer yielded high ion exchange capacity and moderate ionic conductivity values even at higher temperatures, which makes them potential ion conducting candidates.