Sulfonated poly (aryl ether ketone sulfone) modified by polyoxometalates LaW10 clusters for proton exchange membranes with high proton conduction performance

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are classified as solid superacids which can exhibit notable proton conductivity, making them a promising functional inorganic filler for enhancing the proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes (PEMs). In this study, a series of hybrid membranes were obtained by molecular-level hybridization of Weakley-type POM Na7H2LaW10O36 (LaW10) clusters into sulfonated poly (aryl ether ketone sulfone) (SPAEKS). All hybrid membranes exhibited greater proton conductivity than the pristine membrane in the 30-80 C-degrees temperature range. When the doping amount of LaW10 reached 7 wt.%, the proton conductivity of M-LaW10-7 achieved 64 mS center dot cm(-1) at 80 C-degrees. Lanthanide ions' high coordination number property and variable coordination environment can aid to attract more water molecules from the environment. LaW10 and these bound water can construct denser hydrogen bonds with -SO3H of SPAEKS. These intensive hydrogen bonds will facilitate the constitution of more continuous proton transport channels, and improve the proton conductivity of the hybrid membrane. This work offers a fresh approach to using POMs containing rare-earth components in PEMs.