Thermochemical Stability Study of Alkyl-Tethered Quaternary Ammonium Cations for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Mohanty, Angela D.; Tignor, Steven E.; Sturgeon, Matthew R.; Long, Hai; Pivovar, Bryan S.; Bae, Chulsung

doi:10.1149/2.0141713jes

Thermochemical Stability Study of Alkyl-Tethered Quaternary Ammonium Cations for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0141713jes· OSTI ID:1413189

Mohanty, Angela D.; Tignor, Steven E.; Sturgeon, Matthew R.; Long, Hai; Pivovar, Bryan S.; Bae, Chulsung

The increased interest in the use of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for applications in electrochemical devices has prompted significant efforts in designing materials with robust stability in alkaline media. Most reported AEMs suffer from polymer backbone degradation as well as cation functional group degradation. In this report, we provide comprehensive experimental investigations for the analysis of cation functional group stability under alkaline media. A silver oxide-mediated ion exchange method and an accelerated stability test in aqueous KOH solutions at elevated temperatures using a Parr reactor were used to evaluate a broad scope of quaternary ammonium (QA) cationic model compound structures, particularly focusing on alkyl-tethered cations. Additionally, byproduct analysis was employed to gain better understanding of degradation pathways and trends of alkaline stability. Experimental results under different conditions gave consistent trends in the order of cation stability of various QA small molecule model compounds. Overall, cations that are benzyl-substituted or that are near to electronegative atoms (such as oxygen) degrade faster in alkaline media in comparison to alkyl-tethered QAs. These comprehensive model compound stability studies provide valuable information regarding the relative stability of various cation structures and can help guide researchers towards designing new and promising candidates for AEM materials.

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)

DOE Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1413189

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-2C00-67596

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 164; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical Society

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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