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Effects of [Bmim]OH on structure and conductive properties of alkaline PVA/[Bmim]OH membranes

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Abstract

A series of alkaline polyvinyl alcohol/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide (PVA/[Bmim]OH) electrolyte membranes were developed via a direct blending and solution casting method. The structure and conductive properties of PVA/[Bmim]OH membranes with various concentrations of [Bmim]OH were systematically studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), tensile-strength analysis, and AC impedance spectroscopy. When blended, the PVA/[Bmim]OH membrane exhibited superior ionic conductive and the maximum ionic conductivity was found around 0.0196 S cm−1 when the weight ratio of [Bmim]OH to PVA was 2.0. A model was proposed to illustrate the structure of PVA/[Bmim]OH membranes and the effect of [Bmim]OH on the ionic conductivity of the PVA matrix. The results and the model indicated that the addition of [Bmim]OH could significantly improve the electrochemical properties of the membranes, which is a promising candidate for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) applications.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, China (No.09ZR1401500), the project of the Action on Scientists and Engineers to Serve Enterprises (2009GJE20016), the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars (Ministry of Education), the Cultivating Project of the Key Laboratory of High Performance Fibers and Products (Donghua University, Ministry of Education), Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (B603) and Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (No. 111-2-04). The authors thank Dr. Rachel L. Behrens and Matthew A. Rigsby from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for suggesting on writing. And also thank Dr. J. Li from National Institute for Materials Science of Japan for valuable discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fiber and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuling Zhu, Biao Wang & Huaping Wang

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  1. Xiuling Zhu
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  2. Biao Wang
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  3. Huaping Wang
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Correspondence to Biao Wang.

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Zhu, X., Wang, B. & Wang, H. Effects of [Bmim]OH on structure and conductive properties of alkaline PVA/[Bmim]OH membranes. Polym. Bull. 65, 719–730 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-010-0321-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-010-0321-y

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