Evaluating the Role of Additive pK(a) on the Proton Conductivities of Blended Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) Membranes

Abstract

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membranes were blended with various functionalized imidazoles. The effect of the pK(a) of the added heterocycle on the dry proton conductivities of the blended membranes was evaluated over the temperature range of 40-150 degrees C. These membranes showed nonmonotonous conductivities with respect to temperature, as well as a clear correlation of peak temperature conductivity to the pK(a) of the heterocycle. We use a theoretical model based on the reaction equilibria between sPEEK's sulfonic acid groups and the basicity of the added heterocycles in order to better understand the mechanistic origins of the observed temperature-conductivity profiles.