Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfonated Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone) Multiblock Copolymers for Proton Exchange Membrane

A series of multiblock copolymers based on sulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) (bSPAES-SF) with highly rigid hydrophilic sulfonate blocks and flexible hydrophobic blocks were successfully synthesized by the condensation of sulfonated decafluorobiphenyl-terminated oligomers and the hydroxyl-terminated oligomers. The former oligomers were sulfonated by fuming sulfonic acid. The bSPAES-SF membranes with IEC of 1.26-1.70 mmol/g exhibited high proton conductivity, hydrolytic and dimensional stability.