Polybenzimidazoles with Pendant Quaternary Ammonium Groups as Anion Exchange Membranes: Synthesis, Characterization and Alkaline Stability. Issue 1677 (20th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kulkarni, Mahesh P.; Peckham, Timothy J.; Thomas, Owen D.; Holdcroft, Steven
• Is Part Of: MRS proceedings. Issue 1677:(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-05-20
• Subjects: ion-exchange material, -- polymerization, -- polymer; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/opl.2014.480
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-9172

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A novel method for introducing quaternary ammonium-bearing side chains has been developed and applied to a polybenzimidazole backbone to generate new anionic-exchange polymers, TMHA-m-FPBI where m = the degree of substitution of available sites (values ranging from 74 to 100%). These polymers have been shown to exhibit hydroxide ion conductivities up to 34 mS cm -1 in hydrated membranes at ambient temperature and 13 mS cm -1 at 60 °C, RH = 95%. Immersion of these polymers in 2 M KOH at 60 °C has shown they remain stable with no sign of chemical structure degradation to a period of at least 15 days.