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Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
Effect of Surface Ion Conductivity of Anion Exchange Membranes on Fuel Cell Performance
Masanori Hara1, Taro Kimura, Takuya Nakamura
1Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center, University of Yamanashi , 6-43 Miyamae, Kofu 400-0021, Japan.
Abstract:
Anion conductivity at the surfaces of two anion-exchange membranes (AEMs), quaternized ammonium poly(arylene ether) multiblock copolymer (QPE-bl-3) and quaternized ammonium poly(arylene perfluoro-alkylene) copolymer (QPAF-1), synthesized by our group was investigated using current-sensing atomic force microscopy under purified air at various relative humidities. The anion-conducting spots were distributed inhomogeneously on the surface of QPE-bl-3, and the total areas of the anion-conducting spots and the current at each spot increased with humidity. The anion-conductive areas on QPAF-1 were found on the entire surface even at a low humidity. Distribution of the anion-conducting spots on the membrane was found to directly affect the performance of an AEM fuel cell.
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