SYNTHESIS OF DIAZONIUM N-(PERFLUOROALKYL) BENZENESULFONIMIDE ZWITTERIONIC POLYMERS FOR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS

Author Names and Emails

Helal Alharbi, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Hua Mei, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow

Authors' Affiliations

Helal Alharbi and Dr. Hua Mei, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

Location

Ballroom

Start Date

4-5-2018 8:00 AM

End Date

4-5-2018 12:00 PM

Poster Number

65

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Hua Mei

Faculty Sponsor's Department

Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University,

Classification of First Author

Graduate Student-Master’s

Type

Poster: Competitive

Project's Category

Natural Sciences

Abstract or Artist's Statement

The objective of the research is to synthesize the diazonium N-(perfluoroalkyl) benzenesulfonimide (PFSI) zwitterionic polymers as electrolytes in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The proposed diazonium PFSI zwitterionic polymers are expected to enhance the thermal and chemical stability, increase the proton conductivity of electrolytes, and improve the catalyst efficiency in electrodes for PEM fuel cells. Synthesis of the perfluorobenzoyl peroxide initiator, homoplymerization of perfluoro (3-oxapent-4-ene) sulfonyl fluoride and coupling reaction with 4-nitrobenzene sulfonyl amide have been carried out successfully in the lab. All the intermediate chemicals are characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹⁹F NMR and IR.