Enhanced performance of poly(olefin)-based anion exchange membranes cross-linked by triallylmethyl ammonium iodine and divinylbenzene

Anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) can be a viable technology to help combat global warming as they are clean energy conversion devices. Herein, a novel series of poly(olefin)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) comprising quaternary ammonium (QA) cations are designed and prepared successfully through ultraviolet cross-linking of olefin monomers, followed by an anion exchange reaction. Triallylmethyl ammonium iodine ([TAMA][I]) is synthesized and used both as a conductive group and a flexible cross-linker. Divinylbenzene (DVB) is used as a rigid cross-linker in the preparation of poly(olefin)-based membranes, and the poly(olefin)-based membranes exhibit robust alkaline stability because of their ether-free backbone. The content of rigid non-conductive DVB in poly(olefin)-based AEMs can be reduced by introducing [TAMA][I], leading to the improved conductivity and cell performance of the AEMs. The [PSAN]₆₀-[TAMA][OH]₄₀-1 membrane possesses a high conductivity of 51.30 mS cm⁻¹ at 80 °C, which is higher than that of [PSAN]₆₀-[TAMA][OH]₄₀–4 (30.11 mS cm⁻¹). The H₂/O₂ fuel cell assembled with [PSAN]₆₀-[TAMA][OH]₄₀–1 exhibit higher peak power density (266 mW cm⁻², 60 °C) than the one assembled with [PSAN]₆₀-[TAMA][OH]₄₀–4 (83 mW cm⁻²). The results show that it is a facile, inexpensive, and commercially viable approach to the preparation of poly(olefin)-based AEMs.