PVDF-g-poly (styrene-co-vinylbenzyl chloride) based anion exchange membrane: High salt removal efficiency and stability

Water and energy crises draw much attention towards ion exchange membranes based technology. The progress in membrane-based technology provides an effective platform to develop suitable material with superior performance for anion exchange membranes (AEMs). AEM based fuel cell technology is the most appropriate power system for portable applications. Herein we report the synthesis and application of polyvinylidene fluoride based copolymer AEMs. AEMs were synthesized by grafting poly (styrene-co-vinylbenzyl chloride) on unsaturated fluorinated backbone using free radical mechanism. PQSV membranes show good ion transport mechanism, having ionic conductivity of 1.24 x 10(-2)S/cm to 3.95 x 10(-2)S/cm and ion exchange capacity ranging between 0.64 and 1.36 meq/g. PQSV membranes were subjected to electrodialysis for salt removal and methanol permeability measurement for direct methanol fuel cell. Performance of PQSV membrane during salt removal was evaluated in terms of power consumption and current efficiency and found in order of 1.46-1.89 kW h/kg and 78.31-85.46%, respectively. Fuel cell applicability of PQSV membranes coined in terms of methanol permeability and PQSV membranes show high methanol crossover resistance of the order of 2.67 x 10(-7) to 6.76 x 10(-7) cm(2)/S. Results show the PQSV membranes have a great potential for salt removal with high methanol crossover resistance with better stability.