Polyphenylene Sulfide Sulphonic Acid: Processing, Solid State Conductivity and Electrolyte Transport Properties

Polyphenylene sulfide sulphonic acid is an amorphous, non melting solid which dissolves only in SOCl2, dehydrates at 40–180°C and degrades with heavy weight loss starting from 270°C. The polymer has been tested as solid state component of electrochemical devices in the 20–160°C range with the following results: conductivity (ohm−1 cm−1) = 10−1 in 30% KOH aq., 10−2 in 5 atm steam pressure and 10−5 in air; transport number in KCl (t +) ∼ 1. Possible applications are discussed in relation to the performance of other established material.