Development of Polymeric Membranes Based on Quaternized Polysulfones for AMFC Applications

Carbone, A.; Pedicini, R.; Gatto, Irene; Saccà, A.; Patti, Assunta; Bella, Giuseppe Di; Cordaro, Massimiliano

doi:10.3390/polym12020283

Cited by 29 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To calculate the total amount of ions contained in the membrane, a back-titration based on the Volhard method was carried out [ 29 ]. This method was able to recognize the halides coordinated to the quaternary ammonium groups, in particular Br − and Cl − .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anionic Exchange Membrane for Photo-Electrolysis Application

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tandem photo-electro-chemical cells composed of an assembly of a solid electrolyte membrane and two low-cost photoelectrodes have been developed to generate green solar fuel from water-splitting. In this regard, an anion-exchange polymer–electrolyte membrane, able to separate H2 evolved at the photocathode from O2 at the photoanode, was investigated in terms of ionic conductivity, corrosion mitigation, and light transmission for a tandem photo-electro-chemical configuration. The designed anionic membranes, based on polysulfone polymer, contained positive fixed functionalities on the side chains of the polymeric network, particularly quaternary ammonium species counterbalanced by hydroxide anions. The membrane was first investigated in alkaline solution, KOH or NaOH at different concentrations, to optimize the ion-exchange process. Exchange in 1M KOH solution provided high conversion of the groups, a high ion-exchange capacity (IEC) value of 1.59 meq/g and a hydroxide conductivity of 25 mS/cm at 60 °C for anionic membrane. Another important characteristic, verified for hydroxide membrane, was its transparency above 600 nm, thus making it a good candidate for tandem cell applications in which the illuminated photoanode absorbs the highest-energy photons (< 600 nm), and photocathode absorbs the lowest-energy photons. Furthermore, hydrogen crossover tests showed a permeation of H2 through the membrane of less than 0.1%. Finally, low-cost tandem photo-electro-chemical cells, formed by titanium-doped hematite and ionomer at the photoanode and cupric oxide and ionomer at the photocathode, separated by a solid membrane in OH form, were assembled to optimize the influence of ionomer-loading dispersion. Maximum enthalpy (1.7%), throughput (2.9%), and Gibbs energy efficiencies (1.3%) were reached by using n-propanol/ethanol (1:1 wt.) as solvent for ionomer dispersion and with a 25 µL cm−2 ionomer loading for both the photoanode and the photocathode.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anionic Exchange Membrane for Photo-Electrolysis Application

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The sessile drop procedure was adopted employing water as a liquid with a volume drop of 2 µL dispensed with a drop rate of 0.5 µL/s on the surface of the films. The drop-shape was analysed by an ellipse fitting method [82]. For both fully dived and one-layer diving samples, the contact angle measurements were carried out on the rear side, opposite to the side where CuO deposition subsequently occurred.…”

Section: Physicochemical Characterisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dry Hydrogen Production in a Tandem Critical Raw Material-Free Water Photoelectrolysis Cell Using a Hydrophobic Gas-Diffusion Backing Layer

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A photoelectrochemical tandem cell (PEC) based on a cathodic hydrophobic gas-diffusion backing layer was developed to produce dry hydrogen from solar driven water splitting. The cell consisted of low cost and non-critical raw materials (CRMs). A relatively high-energy gap (2.1 eV) hematite-based photoanode and a low energy gap (1.2 eV) cupric oxide photocathode were deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO) and a hydrophobic carbonaceous substrate, respectively. The cell was illuminated from the anode. The electrolyte separator consisted of a transparent hydrophilic anionic solid polymer membrane allowing higher wavelengths not absorbed by the photoanode to be transmitted to the photocathode. To enhance the oxygen evolution rate, a NiFeOX surface promoter was deposited on the anodic semiconductor surface. To investigate the role of the cathodic backing layer, waterproofing and electrical conductivity properties were studied. Two different porous carbonaceous gas diffusion layers were tested (Spectracarb® and Sigracet®). These were also subjected to additional hydrophobisation procedures. The Sigracet 35BC® showed appropriate ex-situ properties for various wettability grades and it was selected as a cathodic substrate for the PEC. The enthalpic and throughput efficiency characteristics were determined, and the results compared to a conventional FTO glass-based cathode substrate. A throughput efficiency of 2% was achieved for the cell based on the hydrophobic backing layer, under a voltage bias of about 0.6 V, compared to 1% for the conventional cell. For the best configuration, an endurance test was carried out under operative conditions. The cells were electrochemically characterised by linear polarisation tests and impedance spectroscopy measurements. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs were analysed to assess the structure and morphology of the investigated materials.

show abstract

“…The Volhardt approach was used to estimate the degree of functionalization. 10 The formation of Zn-NVP complex was a problem which may develop when resins were chloromethylated with high NVP content was done with anhydrous ZnCl 2 /THF catalyst which resulted in a change in color. This changed color did not wash away even when washed with several solvents, demonstrating the excellent stability this compound has.…”

Section: Polymer Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of Biologically Active Peptides using Newly Designed N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone Incorporated Flexible Cross linked Polystyrene

Jacob¹,

Harry²,

Binoj³

et al. 2022

Orient. J. Chem

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Synthesis of NS1 and NS2 peptide fragment of hepatitis C virus polyprotein was carried out on a terpolymer- polystyrene, N-vinylpyrrolidone, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate resin (PS-NVP-HDDA). The radical aqueous suspension polymerisation resulted in the resin, that exhibited high swelling capacity in various solvents. The peptides were synthesized step-wise by Fmoc strategy, established with amino acid analysis and purified using HPLC. The polymer's high degree of swelling might facilitate free reagent interaction with resin-bound functional sites, resulting in an increased rate of amide bond production. The peptides yield and purity obtained from new support was high when compared to Merrifield resin. These peptides synthesis depicts the application of PS-NVP-HDDA resin developed for synthesis of long chain peptides in high homogeneity and high yield.

show abstract

Development of Polymeric Membranes Based on Quaternized Polysulfones for AMFC Applications

Cited by 29 publications

References 31 publications

Anionic Exchange Membrane for Photo-Electrolysis Application

Anionic Exchange Membrane for Photo-Electrolysis Application

Dry Hydrogen Production in a Tandem Critical Raw Material-Free Water Photoelectrolysis Cell Using a Hydrophobic Gas-Diffusion Backing Layer

Synthesis of Biologically Active Peptides using Newly Designed N-Vinyl Pyrrolidone Incorporated Flexible Cross linked Polystyrene

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About