POS1-1112
Nitrile- and Ether-Rich Covalent Organic Framework Nanofillers for High-Performance SPEEK-Based Proton Exchange Membranes
Topic
S1. Polymer Synthesis
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Jiyong Choi (Seoul National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Nanofiller incorporation has been extensively explored as an effective approach to improve the stability of proton exchange membranes (PEMs); however, it often compromises proton conductivity. In this study, a nitrile- and ether-rich covalent organic framework, denoted COF-EN, was synthesized through a nucleophilic substitution reaction and introduced as a functional nanofiller into a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) matrix. The resulting SPEEK/COF-EN composite membranes showed improved dimensional, thermal, and oxidative stability, which can be attributed to strong interfacial interactions between COF-EN and the SPEEK chains. At the same time, the polar nitrile and ether groups in COF-EN promoted water retention and contributed to the formation of efficient proton transport pathways. Consequently, the optimized SPEEK/COF-EN₃ membrane delivered a power density approximately 2.3 times higher than that of the pristine SPEEK membrane, demonstrating the promise of functional COF nanofillers for developing high-performance PEMs.
