Characterization of polymer systems based on sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)

The sulfonation reaction of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) has been carried out, incorporating the resulting product into pure PPO to study, in forthcoming research, the electrical and mechanical features of the composites with regard to their performance in fuel cells. Pure sulfonated polymers and their blends have been characterized from a microstructural and electrical point of view, by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and complex impedance spectroscopy. Membranes have been manufactured with excellent ionic conductivity at room temperature.