Anion Conductive Triblock Copolymer Membranes with Flexible Multication Side Chain

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are crucial components in fuel cells.
• Developing AEMs with high conductivity and long-term stability remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel triblock copolymer AEMs with flexible side chains.
• To evaluate their performance in terms of conductivity, stability, and fuel cell application.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of triblock copolymer AEMs with flexible side chains (ABA-TQA-x).
• Characterization of membrane morphology using transmission electron microscopy.
• Measurement of ionic conductivity, alkaline stability, and fuel cell performance.

Main Results:

• The synthesized AEMs exhibited well-developed hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase separation and ion-conducting channels.
• Triblock copolymer AEMs with flexible side chains showed significantly higher conductivity (up to 130.5 mS cm⁻¹) compared to monocation counterparts.
• The membranes demonstrated good alkaline stability, retaining high conductivity and ionic exchange capacity after prolonged exposure to harsh conditions.
• A peak power density of 204.6 mW cm⁻² was achieved in a H₂/O₂ single cell.

Conclusions:

• Novel triblock copolymer AEMs with flexible side chains provide a promising pathway to highly conductive and stable membranes.
• The unique structure enhances ion transport while limiting water swelling, leading to improved durability.
• These findings support the potential of these AEMs for advanced fuel cell technologies.