Phenolphthalein Anilide Based Poly(Ether Sulfone) Block Copolymers Containing Quaternary Ammonium and Imidazolium Cations: Anion Exchange Membrane Materials for Microbial Fuel Cell
Open Access
- 20 June 2021
- Vol. 11 (6), 454
- https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11060454
Abstract
A class of phenolphthalein anilide (PA)-based poly(ether sulfone) multiblock copolymers containing pendant quaternary ammonium (QA) and imidazolium (IM) groups were synthesized and evaluated as anion exchange membrane (AEM) materials. The AEMs were flexible and mechanically strong with good thermal stability. The ionomeric multiblock copolymer AEMs exhibited well-defined hydrophobic/hydrophilic phase-separated morphology in small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. The distinct nanophase separated membrane morphology in the AEMs resulted in higher conductivity (IECw = 1.3–1.5 mequiv./g, σ(OH−) = 30–38 mS/cm at 20 °C), lower water uptake and swelling. Finally, the membranes were compared in terms of microbial fuel cell performances with the commercial cation and anion exchange membranes. The membranes showed a maximum power density of ~310 mW/m2 (at 0.82 A/m2); 1.7 and 2.8 times higher than the Nafion 117 and FAB-PK-130 membranes, respectively. These results demonstrated that the synthesized AEMs were superior to Nafion 117 and FAB-PK-130 membranes.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2021R1A2B5B01002081)
- Dong-eui University Foundation Grant (Dong-eui University Foundation Grant (2019))
This publication has 50 references indexed in Scilit:
- Pendent piperidinium-functionalized blend anion exchange membrane for fuel cell applicationInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2019
- Anion Conductive Triblock Copolymer Membranes with Flexible Multication Side ChainACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2018
- Architecture, Assembly, and Emerging Applications of Branched Functional Polyelectrolytes and Poly(ionic liquid)sACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015
- Comb-shaped alkyl imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s as high performance anion-exchange membranesJournal of Materials Chemistry A, 2015
- Application of PVA–PDDA polymer electrolyte composite anion exchange membrane separator for improved bioelectricity production in a single chambered microbial fuel cellChemical Engineering Journal, 2014
- Novel morpholinium-functionalized anion-exchange PBI–polymer blendsJournal of Materials Chemistry A, 2014
- Self-crosslinked anion exchange membranes by bromination of benzylmethyl-containing poly(sulfone)s for direct methanol fuel cellsInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2012
- Recent advances in the separators for microbial fuel cellsBioresource Technology, 2011
- Self-crosslinking for dimensionally stable and solvent-resistant quaternary phosphonium based hydroxide exchange membranesChemical Communications, 2011
- Biocatalysts in microbial fuel cellsEnzyme and Microbial Technology, 2010