Anisotropic radio-chemically pore-filled anion exchange membranes for solid alkaline fuel cell (SAFC)

Pore Filled Ion-Conducting Materials Based on Track-Etched Membranes and Sulfonated Polystyrene

Abstract

Synthesis of proton-conducting materials based on track-etched membranes from polyvinylidene fluoride and sulfonated cross-linked polystyrene is described. The synthesis has been carried out by filling the pores of the original or gamma-irradiated track-etched membrane by copolymerization of styrene/divinylbenzene followed by sulfonation of polystyrene with chlorosulfonic acid. The resulting membranes have been studied by scanning electron microscopy and ATR IR spectroscopy. Membrane ionic conductivity, hydrogen gas permeability, ion-exchange capacity, and water absorption were measured. The ionic conductivity at 30°C reaches 51.7 mS/cm, which is almost three times higher than for Nafion®212 membranes; however, the gas permeability of the obtained materials also increases simultaneously.

Role of water environment in chemical degradation of a covalent organic framework tethered with quaternary ammonium for anion exchange membranes

The anion exchange membrane (AEM) is a main component for AEM fuel cells. Recently, a series of electrolytes based on covalent organic frameworks (COFs) functionalized with quaternary ammonium (QA) of showed extraordinary ionic conductivities thanks to the intrinsic porosity of the COF structures, which also provide a robust backbone for good mechanical strength. However, the chemical stability of the COF-based AEMs in alkaline conditions is yet to be understood. Here we systematically investigate the chemical degradation of the COF-based structures tethered with alkyl spacers by combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We find that the water environment protects the cationic groups from chemical degradation in terms of both physical and chemical effects, which play a synergistic role. Moreover, we introduce the effective density of water as an order parameter to quantitatively characterize the level of degradation of the COF-based systems with similar design of architecture. The results provide guidance for estimation of the chemical stability of COF-based AEMs.

Ultrathin and Super Strong UHMWPE Supported Composite Anion Exchange Membranes with Outstanding Fuel Cells Performance

For high-performance anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), the anion exchange membrane (AEMs) should be as thin as possible to reduce the ohmic resistance. However, the mechanical stability of ultrathin AEMs cannot be guaranteed, as well as a huge risk of gas (H₂ &O₂ ) permeation. In this work, composite AEMs based on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are prepared by in situ bulk polymerization. The as-prepared composite membranes can be as thin as 4 µm, and possess super high strength beyond 150 MPa. It also shows extremely low hydrogen permeation, low water uptake, low dimensional swelling, high conductivity, and good alkaline stability. In addition, the fuel cell performance based on the ultrathin composite AEMs exhibits outstanding peak power density of 1014 and 534 mW cm^-2 for H₂ -O₂ and H₂ -Air (CO₂ -free) at 65 °C, respectively, as well as good short-term durability.

Pore-Filled Anion-Exchange Membranes with Double Cross-Linking Structure for Fuel Cells and Redox Flow Batteries

In this work, high-performance pore-filled anion-exchange membranes (PFAEMs) with double cross-linking structures have been successfully developed for application to promising electrochemical energy conversion systems, such as alkaline direct liquid fuel cells (ADLFCs) and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). Specifically, two kinds of porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrates, with different hydrophilicities, were utilized for the membrane fabrication. The PTFE-based PFAEMs revealed, both excellent electrochemical characteristics, and chemical stability in harsh environments. It was proven that the use of a hydrophilic porous substrate is more desirable for the efficient power generation of ADLFCs, mainly owing to the facilitated transport of hydroxyl ions through the membrane, showing an excellent maximum power density of around 400 mW cm−2 at 60 °C. In the case of VRFB, however, the battery cell employing the hydrophobic PTFE-based PFAEM exhibited the highest energy efficiency (87%, cf. AMX = 82%) among the tested membranes, because the crossover rate of vanadium redox species through the membrane most significantly affects the VRFB efficiency. The results imply that the properties of a porous substrate for preparing the membranes should match the operating environment, for successful applications to electrochemical energy conversion processes.