Polymer comprising terminal sulfonic acid group, and polymer electrolyte and fuel cell using the same

Abstract

The present invention is related to a polymer comprising terminal sulfonic acid groups, which has a high ionic conductivity and good structural stability, does not decompose even under low humidity conditions, and is inexpensive to produce. Furthermore, the present invention is related to a polymer electrolyte and a fuel cell using the same. The polymer of the present invention has a substituent comprising a terminal sulfonic acid group comprising Formula (1) at a side chain: where n may be a number in the range of about 1 to about 5.

1. A polymer having a substituent having a terminal sulfonic acid group comprising Formula (1) at a side chain: 
                 
 
       where n is a number in the range of about 1 to about 5. 
     
     
       2. The polymer of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
                 
 
       m
 where each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted C 1-6  alkyl group, and a halogen atom; where n is a number in the range of about 10 to about 1000; and where R is the substituent comprising Formula (1).  
 
     
     
       3. The polymer of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer comprising Formula (2) further comprises a repeating unit comprising: 
                 
 where each of R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , and R 14  is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted C 1-6  alkyl group, and a halogen atom.  
 
     
     
       4. The polymer of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer comprising Formula (2), further comprises the repeating unit having Formula (3), and comprises Formula (4): 
                 
 where each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , and R 14  is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or non-substituted C 1-6  alkyl group, and a halogen atom; where n is a number in the range of about 5 to about 1000; where m is a number in the range of about 5 to about 1000; where m/n is a number in the range of about 0.001 to about 5; and where R is the substituent comprising Formula (1).  
 
     
     
       5. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises: 
                 
 where Ar is a tetravalent aromatic or aliphatic organic group; X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, —O—, —S—, a C 1-6  alkylene group, 
                 
 
 where n is a number in the range of about 3 to about 1000; and where R is the substituent comprising Formula (1).  
 
     
     
       6. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises: 
                 
 where Ar 1  is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, a substituted or non-substituted C 1-6  alkylene group, and a substituted or non-substituted C 6-20  arylene group; where X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, —O—, —S—, a C 1-6  alkylene group, 
                 
 
 
       where n is a number in the range of about 3 to about 1000; and where R is the substituent comprising Formula (1).