Anion exchange membranes composed of quaternized polybenzimidazole and quaternized graphene oxide for glucose fuel cell

Glucose is one of derivative products from agriculture, possessing high theoretical energy density, non-toxicity and ease of storage, which has been of interest as a fuel in glucose fuel cell. In this work, quaternized polybenzimidazole (Q-PBI) and quaternized graphene oxide (Q-GO) were successfully functionalized by the quaternization between polybenzimidazole (PBI) and 3-bromopropyl trimethylammonium bromide (3-Br), and the reaction between graphene oxide (GO) and dimethyloctadecyl [3(Trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ammonium chloride (DMAOP), respectively. The Q-GOs with various volume fractions were embedded as the dispersed phase in the Q-PBI matrix to produce the Q-GO/Q-PBI composites as an AEM. The 0.5%v/vQ-GO/Q-PBI composite AEM showed the highest hydroxide conductivity of 1.12 +/- 0.01 mS cm(-1) at 27 degrees C, the ion exchange capacity of 1.70 +/- 0.03 mmol.g(-1), the water uptake of 66.61 +/- 0.57%, and the glucose permeability of (1.79 +/- 0.83) x 10(-8) cm(2) - s(-1). The hydroxide conductivity was higher than the commercial Fumasep (R) FAB-PK-130 by a factor of 23 times, whereas the glucose permeability was lower by at least an order of magnitude. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Quaternized polybenzimidazole (Q-PBI) and quaternized graphene oxide (Q-GO) were successfully functionalized and embedded as AEM in this study, showing high hydroxide conductivity and low glucose permeability. The composites have potential applications in the field of glucose fuel cells.