Crosslinked poly (isatin biphenyl spirofluorene) membranes for proton conduction over a wide temperature range from −40 to 160 °C

It is desired to develop proton exchange membranes (PEMs) working in a wide temperature range considering the practical working condition of devices using the PEMs as the electrolyte. Herein, a novel polymer of poly (isatin biphenyl spirofluorene) (PIBS) is first synthesized and it is afterwards crosslinked by 1,3-bis(4-piperidyl) propane (P) to fabricate membranes. The membranes can work in a temperature range of −40 to 160 °C after doping with phosphoric acid (PA). The proton conductivity of the PA doped membrane reaches 4.4 × 10−3 S cm−1 at −40 °C under 80% relative humidity (RH) and 0.16 S cm−1 at 160 °C without humidifying. We demonstrate the uses of the prepared PA doped PIBS-P membranes as membrane electrolytes in single fuel cells within 100–160 °C under anhydrous condition, and in water electrolytic cells within −20 to 60 °C, respectively.