Ionene Membranes for Alkaline Fuel Cells

We have recently developed a new class of anion-exchange membranes, based on xylylene ionene segmented block copolymers [1] for use in alkaline fuel cells. The ionenes were composed of non-polar blocks which gave mechanical strength and prevented water dissolution, and polar blocks with quaternary dibenzyl dimethyl ammonium groups located on the polymer backbone which served as anion-exchange sites. Membranes with an ion-exchange capacity of 2.34 mmol/g swelled 180% in room temperature water, had conductivity of 0.05 S/cm (OH^- form), and were stable in 1M NaOH at 60^oC during a 7 day test.

Our recent study focused on random ionene copolymers with aliphatic segments of different length. Synthesis and characterization of the resultant ionenes and membranes will be the subject of this presentation.

1. K.M. Lee, R. Wycisk, M. Litt, and P.N. Pintauro, Alkaline fuel cell membranes from xylylene block ionenes, J. Membrane Sci 383 (2011) 254.