Polyacrylonitrile-Based Membranes for Aqueous Redox-Flow Batteries

Abstract

We suggest polyacrylonitrile-based materials as membranes for redox-flow batteries. Bulk polyacrylonitrile is not ion-conductive, therefore we have applied two different procedures to enhance its hydrophilicity and porosity, namely solvent-induced phase separation and localized hydrolysis. By testing in a model allvanadium redox-flow battery, we have demonstrated that the proposed approaches allow preparation of the membranes with the operating parameters comparable to these of commercial Nafion membrane used as the benchmark.

A Composite Membrane Based on Sulfonated Polystyrene Implanted in a Stretched PTFE Film for Vanadium Flow Batteries

“…[13][14][15][16] However, searching for the membrane alternatives is continuing as the Nafion prize is relatively high compared to the other reactor components. [17][18][19][20][21][22] Previously various ion-conductive polymers were demonstrated as a prospective materials for the membrane: polyacrylonitrile, [23] sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone), [24] poly (ether sulfone), [25] dimethylamineoethyl methacrylate. [26] One of the popular approaches in membrane development is a merging of the best properties from different commercial polymers to obtain the desired ion-selectivity and minimize the cost.…”