Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Proton Conducting Sulfonated Polytriazoles

Abstract This article describes the synthesis and characterization of highly sulfonated polytriazole copolymers (PTSQSH-I to IV) with IECw values ranging from 2.41 to 3.49 mequiv g–1. The copolymers were synthesized by click reaction between equimolar amount of a dialkyne monomer, potassium 2,5-bis(2-propyn-1-yloxy)benzenesulfonate, and a mixture of two different diazide monomers, 4,4-bis[3′-trifluoromethyl-4′(4-azidobenzoxy)benzyl]biphenyl and 4,4′-diazido-2,2′-stilbene disulfonic acid disodium salt. The copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopy techniques. The membranes were prepared by dissolving the salt form of the copolymers in dimethyl sulfoxide. The copolymers showed high thermal, mechanical, and oxidative stabilities, and the acidified membranes showed very high proton conductivity (43–173 and 132–304 mS cm–1 at 30 and 80 °C, respectively). Transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the formation of well-phase-separated morphology with interconnected hydrophilic domains (20–150 nm).