Triblock <scp>SEBS</scp> / <scp>DVB</scp> crosslinked and sulfonated membranes: Fuel cell performance and conductivity

A set of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) membranes with 10 or 25 wt% divinyl-benzene (DVB) as a crosslinking agent were prepared and validated. Physicochemical characterization revealed suitable hydrolytic thermal stability photo-crosslinked containing DVB post-sulfonated. These compositions evaluated in H2/O2 single cells, electrical proton conductivities furtherly assessed. The the milder post-sulfonation showed greater conductivity than those excessive sulfonation. In terms conductivity, universal power law was applied, values obtained low enough for being used polyelectrolytes. At analyzed temperatures, charge transport process follows long-range pathway vehicular model. Finally, fuel cell performance best behavior membrane DVB, during 30 min mild sulfonated, promising density 526 mW·cm−2. Overall, results highlight these cost-effective copolymer-based indicate that higher sulfonation does not necessarily imply better density.