Abstract
A novel pendant-type cross-linked anion exchange membrane (pc-AEM) was successfully synthesized using a pre-synthesis approach to precisely control the IEC value and the degree of cross-linking. The physical properties of the pc-AEMs and the non-cross-linked pc-AEMs as well as Nafion 117 were determined, and the results were systematically compared. It was found that the synthesized pc-AEMs show much better dimensional retention capacity than the non-cross-linked pc-AEM and Nafion 117. In addition, the mechanical strength of the pc-AEMs was also remarkably enhanced. By increasing the IEC value of the pc-AEMs to the same level of Nafion 117, the highest ionic conductivity of 0.036 S/cm at 80 °C was reached. The remarkable enhancement of conductivity is chiefly attributed to the construction of highly efficient ionic transport channels resulting from the combined pendant-type and cross-linked architectures of the pc-AEMs.
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Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21233006, 21473164, and 21603197), Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China (No. 2016CFB181) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan (No. CUG150620, CUG150615).
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Zhang, Y., Li, C., Yang, Z. et al. A robust pendant-type cross-linked anion exchange membrane (AEM) with high hydroxide conductivity at a moderate IEC value. J Mater Sci 52, 3946–3958 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0656-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0656-3