Crosslinked anion exchange membranes with regional intensive ion clusters prepared from quaternized branched polyethyleneimine/quaternized polysulfone

A series of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with regionally dense ion clusters are prepared by crosslinking quaternized polysulfone (QPSU) with quaternized branched polyethyleneimine (QBPEI). For the as-prepared QPSU/QBPEI AEMs, the hydrophilic QBPEI forms locally aggregated ion clusters in the QPSU matrix, which can promote the formation of an obvious microphase separation structure in the membrane. The QPSU/QBPEI-3 AEM with an ion exchange capacity of 1.88 meq/g exhibits the best performance, achieving a reasonably high ionic conductivity of 66.14 mS/cm at 80 degrees C and showing good oxidation stability and alkali resistance. Finally, the maximum power density of a single H-2/O-2 fuel cell with QPSU/QBPEI-3 AEM reaches 75.34 mW/cm(2) at 80 degrees C. The above results indicate that QBPEI with a dendritic structure and abundant anionic conductive groups has a good application prospect in the preparation of AEMs with locally aggregated ion clusters and microphase separation structures. (C) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

AEMs with regionally dense ion clusters were prepared by crosslinking QPSU with QBPEI. Among them, QPSU/QBPEI-3 AEM exhibited the best performance, with good ionic conductivity and stability at high temperature.