New crosslinked membranes based on cardo-poly(etherketone) and poly(ethylene imine) for the vanadium redox flow battery. (5th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Weiqin; Leng, Shifan; Jin, Yaping; Liu, Ruihong; Che, Xuefu; Liu, Jianguo; Yang, Jingshuai
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 161(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-05
• Subjects: Crosslinking -- Polymer membrane -- Lactamization -- Cardo-poly(etherketone) -- Poly(ethylene imine) -- Vanadium redox flow battery; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110858
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Low-cost membranes for VFRBs are synthesized by crosslinking PEI with PEKC. x %PEI-PEKC membranes exhibt low AR and low VO 2+ permeability simultenously. The 50%PEI-PEKC membrane displays superior VRFB efficiencies and cycling stability. Abstract: Developing polymer membranes with low cost, high ionic conduction and low vanadium ion permeability simultaneously for the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is a huge challenge to macromolecule design and engineering. Herein, a series of high-performance and low-cost macromolecule cross-linked membranes for VRFB are synthesized from cardo-poly(etherketone) (PEKC) and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) through a straightforward lactamization reaction between the primary amines in PEI and lactones in PEKC. Owing to the acid-base interaction between amino groups of PEI and sulfonic acid (SA), crosslinked x %PEI-PEKC membranes exhibit excellent SA adsorption capability and low area resistance. Meanwhile, the formed macromolecule multi-crosslinked networks significantly improve the membrane-forming property of PEI and endow membranes with superior mechanical rigidity and low vanadium ion permeability simultaneously. Consequently, the 50%PEI-PEKC membrane exhibit a nearly 90 times higher ion selectivity of 24.71 × 10 5 S min cm −3 than Nafion 115. The assembled VRFB with 50%PEI-PEKC displays higher battery efficiencies than Nafion 115 at 60–160 mA cm −2, which also possesses superior cycling stability at 100 mA cm −2 .