Citation: Meichen Zhang, Yao Lu, Lele Wang, Peiru Lv, Jingshuai Yang. Poly(dibenzothiophene methylimidazole oxindole) copolymer membranes with multiple hydrogen-bonding sites for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 111752. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111752 shu

Poly(dibenzothiophene methylimidazole oxindole) copolymer membranes with multiple hydrogen-bonding sites for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China

yjs@mail.neu.edu.cn

Received Date: 10 May 2025
Revised Date: 9 August 2025
Accepted Date: 25 August 2025
Available Online: 26 August 2025

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This work presents the design and synthesis of a novel class of ether-free poly(dibenzothiophene methylimidazole oxindole) membranes via a one-step, superacid-catalyzed polycondensation using highly reactive monomers, denoted as P(DBT-Melm_x-OxI_{1 - x}), to meet the rising demand for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). The incorporation of π-conjugated dibenzothiophene units imparts structural rigidity by limiting rotational freedom, thereby disrupting dense chain packing and generating a twisted architecture with ample free volume. These structural features, along with additional hydrogen-bonding sites, create efficient pathways for proton transport. Simultaneously, oxindole units contribute to enhanced mechanical and dimensional stability. Among the series, the P(DBT-Melm_0.5_-OxI_0.5)/190%PA membrane exhibits the highest performance, achieving a peak power density of 893 mW/cm² at 180 °C under dry H₂/O₂ conditions without backpressure. These results highlight the potential of P(DBT-Melm_x-OxI_{1 - x}) membranes as high-performance, structurally robust alternatives for next-generation HT-PEMFCs.
- Imidazole based polymer,
- Dibenzothiophene,
- Isatin,
- High temperature polymer electrolyte membrane,
- Fuel cell
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