Solution-Cast Perfluorinated Sulfocationic Exchange Membranes CTPEM with Lithium- and Sodium Cations Conductivity

Abstract

The paper examines the potential of using of commercially available thin perfluorinated sulfocationic CTPEM membranes, produced through solution-casting, as a polymer matrix for the manufacture of the electrolytes with lithium and sodium ion conductivity. The study demonstrates that the membranes under examination share similar molecular and supramolecular structure and thermal stability with the known Nafion™ membrane, exhibiting a comparable dependence of physicochemical properties on the cation nature. The main differences between the membrane brands under study and Nafion are in the thermal decomposition processes of the polymer matrix. In terms of the ionic conductivity for sodium cations, thinner CTPEM membranes plasticised with propylene carbonate (5 × 10^–5 S cm^–1 at 70°C) are comparable to the Nafion membrane obtained by extrusion.