Synthesis and Property of Proton Exchange Membrane Based on Tadpole-type POSS Block Copolymer

Tadpoles-type POSS block copolymer with polystyrene block copolymer and polymethyl methacrylate as arms (PMMA-b-PS) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method with polysilsesquioxane (POSS) as the initiator and polystyrene block copolymer and polymethyl methacrylate as raw material, and then was characterized by means of FTIR, ¹H NMR and GPC. The results show that the tadpoles-type POSS block copolymer was synthesized successfully. Proton exchange membrane based on the tadpoles-type POSS type block copolymer was prepared, of which the ion exchange capacity, water uptake and swelling rate, proton conductivity and thermal performance was assessed. The results show that proton exchange membrane based on the tadpole-type POSS block copolymer has higher proton conductivity at high temperature as well as high initial decomposition temperature and high temperature resistant performance.