Synthesis and Characterization of Perfluorinated Anion Exchange Membranes

Journal Article · Thu Aug 24 04:00:00 EDT 2017 · ECS Transactions (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/08008.0957ecst· OSTI ID:1480233

Park, Andrew Michael; Owczarczyk, Zbyslaw R.; Garner, L. E.; Yang-Neyerlin, Ami C.; Long, Hai; Antunes, C. M.; Sturgeon, Matthew R.; Lindell, M. J.; Hamrock, Steven J.; Yandrasits, Michael; Pivovar, Bryan S.

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are of high interest for a number of electrochemical device applications including fuel cells, electrolyzers, and flow batteries. Perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymers have been the standard polymer used in the much more established area of proton exchange membrane based devices due to specific advantageous attributes including chemical stability, high conductivity, high water mobility, and the ability to create high performance electrodes. These attributes would make for desirable AEMs, but synthesizing perfluorinated AEMs has been limited and has significant challenges. Here, we report our efforts to develop novel synthesis routes to sulfonamide-linked alkyl ammonium perfluorinated AEMs. We have demonstrated the ability to achieve both high levels of ion exchange and membrane conductivity. We have achieved improved durability by extending the length of the alkyl tether from 3 to 6 carbons, and we have demonstrated the ability to process these polymers into membranes, ionomer solutions/dispersions, and fuel cells with reasonable performance.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1480233
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-5900-72689
• Journal Information: ECS Transactions (Online), Journal Name: ECS Transactions (Online) Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 80; ISSN 1938-6737
• Publisher: Electrochemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
anion exchange membranes
electrochemical devices
synthesis