Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Jong Yeob Jeon

Chulsung Bae

Sangtaik Noh

Junyoung Han

An ion exchange membrane material is composed of a crosslinked polymer network including a first poly(styrene-b-ethylene-r-butylene-b-styrene) triblock copolymer (SEBS), and second SEBS, and a linker crosslinking the first SEBS and the second SEBS. At least one phenyl group from the first SEBS and the second SEBS is functionalized with an alkyl group, and the carbon at the benzylic position of these alkyl groups is saturated with at least two additional alkyl groups. The linker is a diamine bound to the alkyl functional groups. The ion exchange membrane material is made via a substantially simultaneous quaternization and crosslinking reaction between the diamine linker and SEBS functionalized with alkyl halide groups. Increasing concentration of crosslinker in produces membranes with reduced water uptake, leading to an expectation of enhanced stability under hydrated conditions and greater durability. Advantageously, this reduction in water uptake came with little change to ion exchange capacity.

Crosslinking of aromatic polymers for anion exchange membranes

Ion exchange membranes for use in electrochemical energy conversion and storage applications include copolymers having a backbone produced from an olefin, such as ethylene, and a cyclic olefin, such as norbornene. Haloalkyl side chains with terminal halide groups are connected to the polymer backbone via Friedel-Crafts alkylation. The halide groups are then replaced with ionic groups via substitution. The ion exchange membrane material can then be cast or impregnated into a reinforcing mesh to form cation exchange membrane or anion exchange membranes. Rigidity of the ion exchange membranes can be controlled by varying the ratio of olefin to cyclic olefin in the polymer backbone.

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Troy, NY, United States of America

Jong Yeob Jeon