Synthesis and design of laboratory device from proton conducting block copolymer membrane

The butadiene units of polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene (SBS) triblock copolymer were subjected to epoxidation and subsequent sulphonation in order to prepare proton conducting ionomer membrane. The products were characterized by different techniques such as atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and electron microscopy. A simple laboratory device was developed to carry out the tests on proton conductance ability of the prepared ionomer membrane. The experiments demonstrated that the prepared membrane excellently performed as proton conducting membrane.