Synthesis and properties of sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) membranes containing metallophthalocyanine

Metallophthalocyanine (MPc) is a potent catalyst for hydrogen peroxide oxidation, and the mechanism of H2O2 decomposition in solution has been previously explored (H2O2→2H++O2+2e−). This work presents a role of MPc as an anti-oxidant for water and hydrogen peroxide. Poly(ether sulfone)s contained MPc (Ni and Co) (PMPc) were prepared by two-step reaction from 1,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dicyanonaphthlene, 4,4-biphenol and 4,4-fluorophenylsulfone, and followed reaction with metal (II) chloride (Ni and Co) and 1,2-dicyanobenzene in quinoline. The sulfonated PMPc (SPMPc) were synthesized by sulfonation reaction with chlorosulfuric acid and methylene chloride. All these membranes were casted from dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The structure properties of the synthesized polymers were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and FT-IR. The membranes were studied by ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, and proton conductivity. These membranes deterioration test was performed by Fenton reagent as kind of contained metal ions, and compared with normal sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s and Nafion. •We synthesize sulfonated copolymers contained metallophthalocyanine for PEMFC.•We control selectively sulfonation on biphenyl structures on polymer.•Increasing sulfonic acid group increases proton conductivity.•These type membranes show good chemical stability and performance. Metallophthalocyanine (MPc) is a potent catalyst for hydrogen peroxide oxidation (H2O2→2H++O2+2e−). The properties of membranes with and without MPc have been studied in this study. Poly(ether sulfone)s containing MPc (Ni and Co) (PMPc) were prepared by two-step reaction from 1,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dicyanonaphthlene, 4,4-biphenol and 4,4-fluorophenylsulfone, and were followed reaction with metal (II) chloride (Ni and Co) and 1,2-dicyanobenzene in quinoline. The sulfonated PMPc (SPMPc) were synthesized by sulfonation reaction of PMPc with chlorosulfuric acid in methylene chloride. All these membranes were casted from dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The structural properties of the synthesized polymers were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and FT-IR. The membranes were studied by ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, and proton conductivity. These membranes were then subjected to a deterioration test by Fenton reagent and compared with normal sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s and Nafion in order to determine the role of MPc. Membranes containing MPc was shown to have better chemical stability that th