Poly(Aryl-co-Aryl Piperidinium) Copolymers for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers

Next-generation cost-effective anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells (AEMFCs) and AEM water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) have emerged as promising alternatives to costly proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and water electrolyzers due to the possibility of utilizing platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free catalysts and phasing out unsustainable perfluorosulfonic acid polymers. Anion exchange polyelectrolytes (AEPs), which can be utilized as AEMs or ionomers, are pivotal materials in AEM devices. Despite extensive exploration in the past decade, the application of AEPs has been significantly impeded by their poor ionic conductivity, insufficient alkaline stability, and unfavorable mechanical properties. Therefore, developing highly conductive and robust AEPs is critical to the success of AEMFCs and AEMWEs. (i) Our group has developed a series of highly conductive and durable poly(aryl-co-aryl piperidinium) (c-PAP) AEPs to address the aforementioned issues. c-PAP AEMs and ionomers enable outstanding OH^- conductivity (>160 mS cm^-1 at 80 °C), alkaline stability (1 M NaOH at 80 °C > 2000 h), dimensional stability, and mechanical properties (tensile strength > 80 MPa), giving them all the properties required for applications in AEM devices. (ii) Based on c-PAP AEMs and ionomers, we have developed high-performance AEMFCs and AEMWEs, as well as provided insights into the ionomer research and the design of membrane electrode assemblies. Typically, c-PAP AEMFCs reached the topmost peak power densities (PPDs) of 2.7 W cm^-2 at 80 °C in H₂-O₂ along with 1000 h cell durability. Moreover, cathode-dried AEMWEs achieved a record-breaking current density of 17 A cm^-2 in 1 M KOH, and the cell can be run stably at a 1.5 A cm^-2 current density for over 2000 h. The remarkable performances achieved by this new class of c-PAP AEPs identify them as the most promising candidates for practical applications in AEMFCs and AEMWEs. In this account, we will elaborate on our strategies and methodologies associated with c-PAP AEPs and AEM devices, covering the screening and identification of highly durable cation head groups and molecular-engineering approaches to design c-PAP AEMs and ionomers. Moreover, we underscore our strategy in terms of developing highly efficient and durable AEMFCs and AEMWEs. We also elucidate different approaches for further enhancing the ion conductivity and mechanical stability of c-PAP AEMs, including the design of backbones and side chains, cross-linking, and reinforcement. We firmly believe that our series of studies has made substantial contributions to the fields of AEM, ionomers, AEMFCs, and AEMWEs, which have advanced AEM technology to be on par with PEM technology, opening a new avenue for commercialization of AEMFCs and AEMWEs.