Alkaliska jonomerer och membran för energiomvandling

The central purpose of the project is to explore new synthetic strategies to a variety of different cation-containing aromatic polymer architectures.

These will be tailored as membrane materials for electrochemical energy applications such as alkaline fuel cells, water electrolyzers and flow batteries.

The overall aim is to develop approaches to a new generation of highly alkali-stable ionic polymers (ionomers) and anion exchange membranes functionalized with cyclic quaternary ammonium cations for efficient hydroxide ion conduction.

To move beyond current state of the art, we will target quinquephenyl polymers tethered with cations via flexible spacer units, linear and ladder-type poly(xanthene)s incorporating N-spirocyclic cations, as well as ionomers with fused benzene rings to introduce π-π interactions for enhanced polymer aggregation and ionic segregation.

In another approach we will develop synthetic strategies towards sterically "protected" poly(arylene benzimidazolium)s with significantly improved alkaline stability.

A variety of advanced characterization techniques including X-ray scattering, microscopy, NMR and impedance spectroscopy will be used in the study of the fundamental relationships between membrane structure, at different length scales, and properties such as processability, thermochemical stability and hydroxide ion conductivity.

Single-cell experiments will be carried out on selected optimized membranes to investigate performance and durability.