Radiation-induced grafting of a butyl-spacer styrenic monomer onto ETFE: the synthesis of the most alkali stable radiation-grafted anion-exchange membrane to date

Abstract

Adding a butyl spacer between the benzene and N-methylpyrrolidinium group led to double the ex situ alkaline stability compared to use of a methylene spacer.

A review of the synthesis and characterization of anion exchange membranes

“…Therefore, in addition to AEM head group alkaline degradation, AEM chemical stability is also affected by the polymer backbone design. Within these classes of polymers, chemical modifications have allowed more thermal and chemically stable polymer backbones to be designed and/or selected [79][80][81].…”

ETFE-based anion-exchange membrane ionomer powders for alkaline membrane fuel cells: a first performance comparison of head-group chemistry

“…This work involved the synthesis of radiation-graed AEMs based on ETFE polymer lms (Nowofol, 25 mm thick), which were electron-beamed in presence of air (4.5 MeV Dynamatron Continuous Electron Beam Unit, STERIS Synergy Health, South Marston, UK) with absorbed doses controlled by the number of passes (10 kGy per pass). 24,28 The ETFE lms were exposed to a 30 or 40 kGy absorbed dose and stored at À40 C before graing.…”

“…24 The AEI powder was prepared by the radiation-graing of VBC (vinylbenzyl chloride) monomer onto ETFE powders followed by functionalisation with trimethylamine to form the quaternary ammonium forms, which can then be directly used within the CLs. Subsequently, this AEI powder has been used in combination with optimised AEMs leading to impressive AEMFC performances; [25][26][27][28][29] this demonstrates that ionomer powders can be effectively incorporated into CLs, opening up new opportunities for high performance AEMFCs.…”

Ionizing Radiation for Preparation and Functionalization of Membranes and Their Biomedical and Environmental Applications

“…This strategy, reviewed a few years ago [111], not only improves the membrane stability but also usually increases OHconductivity. An example was recently published by J. Ponce-González and co-workers whom, by the addition of a butyl-spacer between the benzene and the methylpyrrolidinium groups in an ETFE-based radiation-grafted AEM, doubled the ex situ alkali stability at 80 • C (when compared to the methylene benchmark) ( Figure 11) [112]. Although, in this case, the obtained lower degree of grafting (in comparison with the methylene benchmark) led to a decrease in conductivity, they could still get peak power densities above 1 Wcm −2 .…”