Issue 41, 2023

Novel side chain functionalized polystyrene/O-PBI blends with high alkaline stability for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE)

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a polystyrene-based anion exchange polymer bearing the cationic charge at a C6-spacer. The polymer is prepared by a functionalized monomer strategy. First, a copper halide catalyzed C–C coupling reaction between a styryl Grignard and 1,6-dibromohexane is applied, followed by quaternization with N-methylpiperidine and free radical polymerization. The novel polymer is blended with the polybenzimidazole O-PBI to yield mechanically stable blend membranes representing a new class of anion exchange membranes. In this regard, the ratio of the novel anion exchange polymer to O-PBI is varied to study the influence on water uptake and ionic conductivity. Blend membranes with IECs between 1.58 meq. OH g−1 and 2.20 meq. OH g−1 are prepared. The latter shows excellent performance in AEMWE, reaching 2.0 A cm−2 below 1.8 V in 1 M KOH at 70 °C, with a minor degradation rate from the start. The blend membranes show no conductivity loss after immersion in 1 M KOH at 85 °C for six weeks indicating high alkaline stability.

Graphical abstract: Novel side chain functionalized polystyrene/O-PBI blends with high alkaline stability for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE)

  • This article is part of the themed collection: #MyFirstJMCA

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Maijs 2023
Accepted
05 Okt. 2023
First published
11 Okt. 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023,11, 22347-22359

Novel side chain functionalized polystyrene/O-PBI blends with high alkaline stability for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE)

L. Hager, M. Hegelheimer, J. Stonawski, A. T. S. Freiberg, C. Jaramillo-Hernández, G. Abellán, A. Hutzler, T. Böhm, S. Thiele and J. Kerres, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2023, 11, 22347 DOI: 10.1039/D3TA02978F

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