biostudies-literatureUnknown8(1)Kajita TAcid-infiltrated block polymer electrolyte membranes adopting a spherical or lamellar nanophase-separated structure were prepared by infiltrating sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) into polystyrene-<i>b</i>-poly(4-vinylpyridine)-<i>b</i>-polystyrene (S-P-S) triblock copolymers to investigate the effects of its nanophase-separated structure on mechanical properties and proton conductivities under non-humidification. Lamellae-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes with a continuous hard phase generally exhibited higher tensile strength than sphere-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes with a discontinuous hard phase even if the same amount of Sa was infiltrated into each neat S-P-S film. Meanwhile, the conductivities of lamellae-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes under non-humidification were comparable or superior to those of sphere-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes, even though they were infiltrated by the same weight fraction of H₂SO₄. This result is attributed to the conductivities of S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes being greatly influenced by the acid/base stoichiometry associated with acid-base complex formation rather than the nanophase-separated structure adopted in the membranes. Namely, there are more free H₂SO₄ moieties that can release free protons contributing to the conductivity in lamellae-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes than sphere-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄, even when the same amount of H₂SO₄ was infiltrated into the S-P-S.ACS omega1121-1130https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9835166biostudies-literatureEffects of a Nanophase-Separated Structure on Mechanical Properties and Proton Conductivity of Acid-Infiltrated Block Polymer Electrolyte Membranes under Non-Humidification.PMC9835166Kajita TTanaka HNoro ATakano AIwamoto HOhtsuka YMufundirwa AImai HOrido TfalseEffects of a Nanophase-Separated Structure on Mechanical Properties and Proton Conductivity of Acid-Infiltrated Block Polymer Electrolyte Membranes under Non-Humidification.Acid-infiltrated block polymer electrolyte membranes adopting a spherical or lamellar nanophase-separated structure were prepared by infiltrating sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) into polystyrene-<i>b</i>-poly(4-vinylpyridine)-<i>b</i>-polystyrene (S-P-S) triblock copolymers to investigate the effects of its nanophase-separated structure on mechanical properties and proton conductivities under non-humidification. Lamellae-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes with a continuous hard phase generally exhibited higher tensile strength than sphere-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes with a discontinuous hard phase even if the same amount of Sa was infiltrated into each neat S-P-S film. Meanwhile, the conductivities of lamellae-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes under non-humidification were comparable or superior to those of sphere-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes, even though they were infiltrated by the same weight fraction of H₂SO₄. This result is attributed to the conductivities of S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes being greatly influenced by the acid/base stoichiometry associated with acid-base complex formation rather than the nanophase-separated structure adopted in the membranes. Namely, there are more free H₂SO₄ moieties that can release free protons contributing to the conductivity in lamellae-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄ membranes than sphere-forming S-P-S/H₂SO₄, even when the same amount of H₂SO₄ was infiltrated into the S-P-S.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-04T08:25:16.962Z2025-04-04T08:25:16.962ZS-EPMC98351663664343810.1021/acsomega.2c06514