title: Imidazolium-Functionalized Poly(arylene ether sulfone) Anion-Exchange Membranes Densely Grafted with Flexible Side Chains for Fuel Cells.
abstract: With the intention of optimizing the performance of anion-exchange membranes (AEMs), a set of imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with densely distributed long flexible aliphatic side chains were synthesized. The membranes made from the as-synthesized polymers are robust, transparent, and endowed with microphase segregation capability. The ionic exchange capacity (IEC), hydroxide conductivity, water uptake, thermal stability, and alkaline resistance of the AEMs were evaluated in detail for fuel cell applications. Morphological observation with the use of atomic force microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that the combination of high-local-density-type and side-chain-type architectures induces distinguished nanophase separation in the AEMs. The as-prepared membranes have advantages in effective water management and ionic conductivity over traditional main-chain polymers. Typically, the conductivity and IEC were in the ranges of 57.3-112.5 mS cm(-1) and 1.35-1.84 mequiv g(-1) at 80 °C, respectively. Furthermore, the membranes exhibit good thermal and alkaline stability and achieve a peak power density of 114.5 mW cm(-2) at a current density of 250.1 mA cm(-2). Therefore, the present polymers containing clustered flexible pendent aliphatic imidazolium promise to be attractive AEM materials for fuel cells.
authors: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, The College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, P. R. China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, The College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, P. R. China.
authors: Ao Nan
authors: AN
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, The College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, P. R. China.
authors: Chen Xiao
authors: CX
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, The College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, P. R. China.
authors: Qiu Gen
authors: QG
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, The College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, P. R. China.
authors: Ai Mei
authors: AM
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, The College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, P. R. China.
authors: Qing Lin
authors: QL
authors: Liu
keywords: anion-exchange membranes; flexible side chains; fuel cell application; ion conduction; phase separation