New amphiphilic semi-interpenetrating networks based on polysulfone for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells with improved alkaline and mechanical stabilities Articles uri icon

publication date

  • June 2021

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 13

issue

  • 123824

volume

  • 226

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0032-3861

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1873-2291

abstract

  • As considerable advance has recently been made in enhancing the conductivity of anion-exchange membranes,
    durability has become the critical requirement in the development of fuel cells. Such properties often develop at
    the expense of the other. In this work, new amphiphilic semi-interpenetrating networks composed of free polysulfone
    and crosslinked polysulfone are synthesized for the first time. The same nature of both polymers makes
    them highly compatible. The free polymer provides the hydrophobic component, whereas the crosslinked polysulfone,
    functionalized with trimethylammonium, 1-methylimidazolium, or 1,2-dimethylimidazolium groups, is
    responsible for the ionic conductivity. The compatibility between both components in the blend, improves the
    mechanical properties, while unaffecting the transport properties. Thus, the obtained membranes exceed the
    mechanical behaviour of commercial materials, even in conditions of extreme humidity and temperature. The
    tensile strength of these synthesized membranes can reach to relatively high values, and when compared to the
    commercial PSU, the difference in tensile strength can be noted to be as low as 10%. Moreover, the tensile
    strength and the ductility values of the crosslinked PSU are higher than those obtained with non-crosslinked PSU.
    Furthermore, the membranes presented in this work show a great alkaline stability (e.g. semi-interpenetrating
    network containing 1,2-dimethylimidazolium maintains 87% of the ionic conductivity after 14 days of treatment).
    Thus, these membranes provide an improvement in the durability limiting factors, in comparison to
    functionalized polysulfones, fulfilling the requirements to be used as electrolytes in anion-exchange membrane
    fuel cells.

subjects

  • Materials science and engineering

keywords

  • anion-exchange membrane (aem); ionic groups; polysulfone; semi-interpenetrating network (sipn); alkaline stability; mechanical stability