Novel Crosslinked Alkaline Exchange Membranes Based on Poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Applications

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Vol. 51; no. 22; pp. 1632 - 1638
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhi, Zhu, Xiuling, Wang, Guangfu, Hou, Xixin, Liu, Dezhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Blackwell Publishing Ltd 15-11-2013; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: anion exchange membrane fuel cell; Applied sciences; Chemical modifications; Chemical reactions and properties; conducting polymers; crosslinking; Exact sciences and technology; Exchange resins and membranes; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; N-methylimidazole; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; poly(phthalazinone ether ketone); Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Alkali resistance; Imidazole derivatives; Chloromethylation; Quaternary ammonium copolymer; Temperature effect; Polymer solid electrolyte; Ether copolymer; Thermal stability; Anion exchange; Nitrogen heterocycle copolymer; Water absorption; Exchange capacity; Electrical properties; Swelling; conducting polymers; Ionic conductivity; Crosslinking; Experimental study; Ketone copolymer; Diamine; anion exchange membrane fuel cell; Chemical modification; poly(phthalazinone ether ketone); Preparation; Cation exchange membrane; N-methylimidazole; Imidazole derivative copolymer
• ISSN: 0887-6266; 1099-0488
• DOI: 10.1002/polb.23377

ABSTRACT
Novel crosslinked anion exchange membranes based on poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) (PPEK) were successfully prepared through chloromethylation, quaternization, membrane casting and OH‐ ionic exchange reaction from the quaternized PPEK (QPPEK) membrane. The quaternization was performed with N‐methylimidazolium (MIm) as ammonium agent and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as crosslinking agent. The ion‐exchange capacity, swelling ratio (SR), water uptake (WU), and ionic conductivity of the QPPEK alkaline membranes have been systematically investigated. The results showed that QPPEK membranes have a high hydroxide conductivity and very low SR. For the QPPEK‐4 alkaline membrane with ion‐exchange capacity (IEC) 2.63 mmol/g, the WU was 35.8%, and the hydroxide conductivity was 0.028 S/cm at 30 °C and 0.032 S/cm at 70 °C, while its SR was only 7.6%. The thermal properties of the QPPEK alkaline membrane and CMPPEK were characterized using thermo‐gravimetric analysis measurements in a nitrogen atmosphere. The alkaline resistance of membrane QPPEK −4 was also briefly investigated in 6 M KOH at 60 °C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1632–1638
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are a clean and efficient power source for electronic vehicles and portable devices; alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) avoid the use of expensive platinum as needed for their proton counterparts. In this work, crosslinked AEMs based on poly(phthalazinone ether ketone) were prepared. The AEM's ion exchange capacity, swelling ratio, water uptake, thermal resistance, and high ionic conductivity were demonstrated for potential application in AEMFCs.