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Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
Highly Conductive and Water-Swelling Resistant Anion Exchange Membrane for Alkaline Fuel Cells
Qianqian Ge1, Xiang Zhu1, Zhengjin Yang2
1Polymer Composites Group, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
Abstract:
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.
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