Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have emerged as a promising technology for a range of electrochemical devices, including fuel cells and electrolyzers. These membranes play a crucial role in facilitating the transport of anions while preventing the passage of unwanted cations, thereby enabling efficient ion exchange and separation within these devices. The development of high-performance AEMs is essential for advancing the efficiency, durability, and overall performance of electrochemical devices, thus contributing to the transition toward sustainable energy technologies.

In this thesis, the focus is to design and synthesize anion exchange membranes with a novel chemical structure or synthesis method to expand the scope of the field. The research includes two chapters: (1) poly(ethylene...[ Read more ]

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have emerged as a promising technology for a range of electrochemical devices, including fuel cells and electrolyzers. These membranes play a crucial role in facilitating the transport of anions while preventing the passage of unwanted cations, thereby enabling efficient ion exchange and separation within these devices. The development of high-performance AEMs is essential for advancing the efficiency, durability, and overall performance of electrochemical devices, thus contributing to the transition toward sustainable energy technologies.

In this thesis, the focus is to design and synthesize anion exchange membranes with a novel chemical structure or synthesis method to expand the scope of the field. The research includes two chapters: (1) poly(ethylene piperidinium)s for anion exchange membranes, and (2) poly(arylene piperidinium)s from Tsuji-Trost reactions for anion exchange membrane fuel cells. As the base of new material synthesis, the polymerization conditions for both polymers were carefully and systematically studied in order to obtain polymers with high molecular, which is beneficial to the membrane property. In both of these two polymers, we introduced crosslinkers to increase their mechanical integrity. It is noteworthy that in Chapter 2, a new concept of ionic crosslinking was introduced during the preparation of AEMs from high-cation-ratio poly(ethylene piperidinium)s. This strategy effectively decreased the membrane water uptake while maintaining high hydroxide conductivity. In Chapter 3, a new chemistry, Tsuji-Trost polymerization, was applied. The AEMs all show remarkable hydroxide conductivity, good chemical and mechanical properties.