A polymethacrylate-based quaternary ammonium OH- ionomer binder for non-precious metal alkaline anion exchange membrane water electrolysers

In order to develop the alkaline anion exchange membrane water electrolysers (AAEMWE), a quaternary OH- conductive ionomer binder based on polymethacrylate was synthesized by copolymerization of three kinds of methacrylate monomers, which was followed by quaternization. Tensile strength of this ionomer membrane was 7.629 MPa, with Young's modulus 0.229 GPa and elongation 45.8%. The conductivity of this ionomer could reach 0.059 S cm(-1) at 50 degrees C. With this ionomer in catalyst layers of an AAEMWE, the voltage of 1.9 V gave a current density of 100 mA cm(-2). Satisfactory stability of the membrane electrode assembly was observed from chronocoulometry. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.