Publication: New amphiphilic semi-interpenetrating networks based on polysulfone for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells with improved alkaline and mechanical stabilities
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Publication date
2021-06-04
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Tutors
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Publisher
Elsevier
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.
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Keywords
Anion-exchange membrane (Aem), Ionic groups, Polysulfone, Semi-interpenetrating network (Sipn), Alkaline stability, Mechanical stability
Bibliographic citation
Ureña, N., Pérez-Prior, M. T., Rio, C. del, Várez, A., & Levenfeld, B. (2021). New amphiphilic semi-interpenetrating networks based on polysulfone for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells with improved alkaline and mechanical stabilities. En Polymer, 226, p. 123824.