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Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
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Highly conductive side chain block copolymer anion exchange membranes
Lizhu Wang1, Michael A Hickner
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. hickner@maste.psu.edu.
Soft Matter
|May 25, 2016
Summary
New anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with a C4 side chain demonstrated enhanced chloride conductivity and improved stability. These advanced polymer materials show promise for electrochemical applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are crucial for electrochemical devices.
- Developing AEMs with high conductivity and stability is an ongoing challenge.
- Polymer structure significantly influences membrane performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel block copolymers for AEMs.
- To investigate the impact of side chain structure on AEM properties.
- To evaluate the conductivity and chemical stability of the synthesized AEMs.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of block copolymers via reversible addition-fragmentation radical (RAFT) polymerization.
- Characterization of membrane morphology using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
- Assessment of ionic conductivity and chemical stability through electrochemical testing and NMR spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- The C4 side chain polymer exhibited a 17% higher Cl(-) conductivity (33.7 mS cm(-1)) than the benzyltrimethyl ammonium analog (28.9 mS cm(-1)).
- SAXS analysis revealed well-defined lamellar morphologies and reduced interdomain spacing in C4 side chain block copolymers.
- The C4 side chain AEM showed slightly improved chemical stability under accelerated degradation conditions.
Conclusions:
- Block copolymers with a C4 side chain trimethyl styrenylbutyl ammonium structure offer superior ionic conductivity compared to benzyltrimethyl ammonium counterparts.
- The side chain architecture influences membrane morphology and ion transport properties.
- These novel AEMs demonstrate potential for advanced electrochemical applications requiring high performance and durability.
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