Enhanced proton conductivity of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membranes by constructing cation‐π through doping ammonium ionic liquid and graphene oxide.

In this paper, sulfonic acid functionalized benzothiazole ionic liquid ([(CH2)3SO3HBth] [H2PO4]) and graphene oxide were combined together through the cation‐π. The sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) was doped with ionic liquid‐modified GO (IL‐GO) to prepare the SPEEK/IL‐GO composite membrane through the solution casting method. The SO3H and benzothiazole rings act as both proton acceptors and proton donors during proton transport and can replace the role of water in medium‐ and high‐temperature environments, increasing the proton transport sites to a certain extent and increasing the proton conductivity of the SPEEK/IL‐GO composite membrane. The proton conductivity of the SPEEK/IL‐GO‐2 composite membrane achieved an 18.02 mS/cm at 120°C, which is 2.43 times higher than that of the pristine SPEEK membrane. This paper provided a method for increasing proton conductivity and limiting IL loss of the SPEEK membrane. Highlights: [(CH2)3SO3HBth][H2PO4] and graphene oxide were combined through cation‐π.The benzothiazole ring and SO3H form acid–base pairs.The proton conductivity of SPEEK/IL‐GO‐2 membrane achieved 18.02 mS/cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]