Anion exchange membranes with clusters of alkyl ammonium group for mitigating water swelling but not ionic conductivity

To ameliorate the trade-off effect between ionic conductivity and water swelling of anion exchange membranes (AEMs), a crosslinked, hyperbranched membrane (C-HBM) combining the advantages of densely functionalization architecture and crosslinking structure was fabricated by the quaternization of the hyperbranched poly(4-vinylbenzyl chloride) (HB-PVBC) with a multiamine oligomer poly(N,N-Dimethylbenzylamine). The membrane displayed well-developed microphase separation morphology, as confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the corresponding high ionic conductivity, strongly depressed water swelling, high thermal stability, and acceptable alkaline stability were achieved. Of special note is the much higher ratio of hydroxide conductivity to water swelling (33.0) than that of most published side-chain type, block, and densely functionalized AEMs, implying its higher potential for application in fuel cells.

Download Full-text

Electrospun Modified Polyketone-Based Anion Exchange Membranes with High Ionic Conductivity and Robust Mechanical Properties

ACS Applied Energy Materials ◽

10.1021/acsaem.1c00727 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yi-cun Zhou ◽

Rui-Ying Bao ◽

Zhengying Liu ◽

Ming-Bo Yang ◽

Wei Yang

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Ionic Conductivity ◽

Anion Exchange ◽

High Ionic Conductivity ◽

Anion Exchange Membranes

Download Full-text

Crosslinked metallo-polyelectrolytes with enhanced flexibility and dimensional stability for anion-exchange membranes

Polymer Chemistry ◽

10.1039/d0py00757a ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (28) ◽

pp. 4542-4546 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tianyu Zhu ◽

Chuanbing Tang

Keyword(s):

Ionic Conductivity ◽

Anion Exchange ◽

Dimensional Stability ◽

Anion Exchange Membranes

We report a class of crosslinked metallo-polyelectrolytes as anion exchange membranes with exceptional mechanical flexibility, dimensional stability and ionic conductivity.

Download Full-text

Electrospun Composite Proton-Exchange and Anion-Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14206709 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (20) ◽

pp. 6709

Author(s):

Zhihao Shang ◽

Ryszard Wycisk ◽

Peter Pintauro

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Anion Exchange ◽

High Performance ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Anion Exchange Membranes ◽

Dry Conditions ◽

Water Swelling ◽

Exchange Membrane

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and oxidant into electricity. Cation-exchange and anion-exchange membranes play an important role in hydrogen fed proton-exchange membrane (PEM) and anion-exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells, respectively. Over the past 10 years, there has been growing interest in using nanofiber electrospinning to fabricate fuel cell PEMs and AEMs with improved properties, e.g., a high ion conductivity with low in-plane water swelling and good mechanical strength under wet and dry conditions. Electrospinning is used to create either reinforcing scaffolds that can be pore-filled with an ionomer or precursor mats of interwoven ionomer and reinforcing polymers, which after suitable processing (densification) form a functional membrane. In this review paper, methods of nanofiber composite PEMs and AEMs fabrication are reviewed and the properties of these membranes are discussed and contrasted with the properties of fuel cell membranes prepared using conventional methods. The information and discussions contained herein are intended to provide inspiration for the design of high-performance next-generation fuel cell ion-exchange membranes.

Download Full-text