Copper Metal Organic Framework-Encapsulated Ionic Liquid-Decorated Sulfonated Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ranbutylene)-block-polystyrene Membranes for Fuel Cells

Ionic liquid (1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide) (L) encapsulated in a copper-established metal organic framework (M) was synthesized using 2,6-napthalene dicarboxylic acid as the organic linker. The prepared additive was incorporated into a sulfonated polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ranbutylene)-block-polystyrene (S-PSEBS) polymer. Thermal and chemical stabilities of the altered membranes were used to investigate the effect of the ionic liquid in S-PSEBS/ML composites. The physicochemical features of the membranes were investigated in depth in order to determine their appropriateness for fuel cell applications. Tensile strengths of the prepared composites were found to be between 18 and 25 MPa. The S-PSEBS/ML1:3 membrane exhibited the highest proton conductivity of 0.0310 S cm(-1); however, the S-PSEBS was restricted to 0.0165 S cm(-1). The incorporation of ML into an S-PSEBS increased both proton conductivity and oxidative stability. Hence, the reported S-PSEBS/ML membranes are feasible materials to be used in PEMFC as alternate electrolytes.