Synthesis and characterization of cross-linked polymer with sulfonylimide group via UV-radical polymerization for PEMFC

The purpose of this research is to synthesized a new monomer and polymer containing fluorosulfonyl imide acid. A series of polymer electrolyte membranes are prepared via UV-curing technique with polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and the methacryloyl fluorosulfonylimide (MAFSI), which is synthesized by methacrylamide (MAA) and fluorosulfonyl isocyanate (FSO2NCO). The MAFSI monomer and the polymer electrolyte (PMFP) are successfully synthesized and confirmed the structure by 1H NMR and FT-IR. The membranes exhibit high proton conductivity from 79.14 to 110.87 mS/cm, low water uptake from 8.74 to 28.57%, and low dimensional expansion from 6.5 to 30.8% in spite of high IEC values from 3.97 to 5.71 meq./g. In addition, the membranes exhibit good thermal stability up to 150 °C temperatures and the surface morphology of the membrane observed good phase separation between MAFSI and ethylene glycol segments.