Synthesis and properties of novel polyimides from sulfonated binaphthalene dianhydride for proton exchange membranes

A sulfonated dianhydride monomer, 6,6-disulfonic-4,4'-binaphthyl-1,1',8,8'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (SBTDA), was successfully synthesized by direct sulfonation of the parent dianhydride, 4,4'-binaphthyl-1,1',8,8'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), using fuming sulfuric acid as the sulfonating reagent. A series of sulfonated homopolyimides were prepared from SBTDA and various common nonsulfonated diamines. The resulting polymer electrolytes, which contain ion conductivity sites on the deactivated positions of the aryl backbone rings, displayed high proton conductivities of 0.25-0.31 S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C. The oxidative stability test indicated that the attachment of the -SO3H groups onto the dianhydride units did not deteriorate the oxidative stability of the SPI membranes.

Synthesis of sulfonated poly(arylene-co-naphthalimide)s as novel polymers for proton exchange membranes

A series of novel sulfonated poly(arylene-co-binaphthalimide)s (SPPIs) were successfully synthesized via Ni(0) catalytic coupling of sodium 3-(2,5-dichlorobenzoyl)benzenesulfonate and bis(chloronaphthalimide)s. Bis(chloronaphthalimide)s were conveniently prepared from 5-chloro-1,8-naphthalic anhydride and various diamines. Tough and transparent SPPI membranes were prepared and the electrolyte properties of the copolymers were intensively investigated as were the effects of different diamine structures on the copolymer characterisitics. The copolymer membrane Ia-80, with an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.50 meq g(-1), displayed a higher proton conductivity, i.e. 0.135 S cm(-1) at 20 degrees C, as compared to Nafion 117 (0.09 S cm(-1), 20 degrees C).

Novel acid-base polyimides synthesized from binaphthalene dianhydrie and triphenylamine-containing diamine as proton exchange membranes

The synthesis and characterization of novel acid-base polyimide membranes for the use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is presented in this paper. The sulfonated polyimides (SPIs) bearing basic triphenylamine groups were easily synthesized using 4,4'-binaphthyl-1,1',8,8'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), sulfonated diamine of 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether-2,2'-disulfonic acid (ODADS), and nonsulfonated diamines of 4,4'-diaminotriphenylamine (DATPA). The effects of the structure of the dianhydride and diamines on the properties of SPI membranes were evaluated through the study of membrane parameters including water sorption, proton conductivity, water stability, dimensional changes, and methanol permeability.

Sulfonated poly(arylene-co-imide)s as water stable proton exchange membrane materials for fuel cells

A novel sulfonated poly(arylene-co-imide)s were synthesized by Ni(0) catalytic copolymerization of sodium 3-(2,5-dichlorobenzoyl)benzenesulfonate and naphthalimide dichloride monomer. The synthesized copolymers with the - SO3H group on the side-chain of polymers possessed high molecular weights revealed by their high viscosity and the formation of tough and flexible membranes. Because of the introduction of electron donating phenoxy groups into naphthalimide moieties, the hydrolysis of the imide rings was depressed. The resulting copolymers exhibited excellent water stability. The copolymer membranes display no apparently change in appearance, flexibility, and toughness after a soaking treatment in pressurized water at 140 degrees C for 250 h.

LaGaO3 : A (A=Sm3+ and/or Tb3+) as promising phosphors for field emission displays

LaGaO3:Sm3+, LaGaO3:Tb3+ and LaGaO3: Sm3+, Tb3+ phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-Ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. Under excitation with ultraviolet light (250-254 nm), the LaGaO3: Sm3+, LaGaO3: Tb3+ and LaGaO3: Sm3+, Tb3+ phosphors mainly show the characteristic broadband emission (from 300 to 600 nm with a maximum around 430 nm) of the LaGaO3 host lattice, accompanied by the weak emission of Sm3+ ((4)G(5/2) -> H-6(5/2), H-6(7/2), H-6(9/2) transitions) and/or Tb3+ (D-5(3,4) -> F-7(6,5,4,3) transitions). However, under excitation by low-voltage electron beams (1-3 kV), the LaGaO3: Sm3+, LaGaO3: Tb3+ and LaGaO3: Sm3+, Tb3+ phosphors exhibit exclusively the characteristic emissions of Sm3+ and/or Tb3+ with yellow (Sm3+), blue (Tb3+, with low concentrations) and white (Sm3+ + Tb3+) colors, respectively.

Bluish-white emission from radical carbonyl impurities in amorphous Al2O3 prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process

Many efforts have been devoted to exploring novel luminescent materials that do not contain expensive or toxic elements, or do not need mercury vapor plasma as the excitation source. In this paper, amorphous Al2O3 powder samples were prepared via the Pechini-type sol-gel process. The resulting samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra, kinetic decay, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

A soluble nonionic surfactant as electron injection material for high-efficiency inverted bottom-emission organic light emitting diodes

A soluble nonionic surfactant, polyethylenimine 80% ethoxylated (PEIE) solution, was used as the electron injection material in inverted bottom-emission organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The transparent PEIE film was formed on indium-tin-oxide cathode by simple spin-coating method and it was found that the electron injection was greatly enhanced. The devices with PEIE electron injection layer had achieved significant enhancement in luminance and efficiency. The maximum luminance reached 47 000 cd/m(2), and the maximum luminance efficiency and power efficiency arrived at 19.7 cd/A and 10.6 lm/W, respectively.

Cesium hydroxide doped tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum as an effective electron injection layer in inverted bottom-emission organic light emitting diodes

We demonstrate highly efficient inverted bottom-emission organic light-emitting diodes (IBOLEDs) by using cesium hydroxide (CsOH) doped tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq(3)) as the electron injection layer on indium tin oxide cathode, which could significantly enhance the electron injection, resulting in a large increase in luminance and efficiency. The maximum luminance, current efficiency, and power efficiency reach 21 000 cd/cm(2), 6.5 cd/A, and 3.5 lm/W, respectively, which are 40%-50% higher in efficiency than that of IBOLEDs with cesium carbonate (Cs2CO3) doped Alq(3) as the electron injection layer, where the efficiencies are only 4.5 cd/A and 2.2 lm/W.