Issue 7, 2013

Aromatic polyelectrolytes via polyacylation of pre-quaternized monomers for alkaline fuel cells

Abstract

To overcome alkali-resistant and synthetic hurdles to alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AAEMs) for alkaline fuel cells, the polyacylation of pre-quaternized monomers as a straightforward and versatile approach has been proposed for the first time. Via this approach, novel aromatic anion-exchange polyelectrolytes featuring a long pendent spacer (i.e., –O–(CH2)4–) instead of a conventional benzyl-type spacer (i.e., –CH2–) are successfully synthesized, and exhibit not only high OH and CO32− conductivity (91 mS cm−1 and 51 mS cm−1 at 60 °C, respectively) but also outstanding alkaline stability (e.g., no degradation of ammonium groups after aging in 6 mol dm−3 NaOH at 60 °C for 40 days). Using this kind of AAEM, a promising peak power density of 120 mW cm−2 is obtained on a preliminary H2/O2 single cell at 50 °C. This powerful synthetic approach together with exceptional membrane properties should pave the way to the practical application of this kind of AAEMs in alkaline fuel cells.

Graphical abstract: Aromatic polyelectrolytes via polyacylation of pre-quaternized monomers for alkaline fuel cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Nov 2012
Accepted
18 Dec 2012
First published
18 Dec 2012
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013,1, 2595-2601

Aromatic polyelectrolytes via polyacylation of pre-quaternized monomers for alkaline fuel cells

Z. Zhang, L. Wu, J. Varcoe, C. Li, A. L. Ong, S. Poynton and T. Xu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 2595 DOI: 10.1039/C2TA01178F

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