Comb-shaped alkyl imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s as high performance anion-exchange membranes?

Journal of Materials Chemistry A Pub Date: 2015-03-13 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA01123J

Abstract

Comb-shaped poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with pendant alkyl imidazolium groups were developed as anion-exchange membranes (AEMs). The imidazolium-functionalized polymers with relatively long alkyl chains formed self-aggregated structures with large ionic clusters and clear hydrophilic–hydrophobic phase separation. These comb-shaped membranes, with ion-exchange capacities of only 0.92–1.14 meq g?1, showed very high hydroxide conductivities of over 0.03 S cm?1 at 20 °C and 0.14 S cm?1 at 80 °C. Furthermore, the self-aggregated structure resulting from these comb-shaped polymers exhibited excellent thermal, mechanical and dimensional stability, as well as superior chemical stability at high pH.

Graphical abstract: Comb-shaped alkyl imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s as high performance anion-exchange membranes
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