Elaboration of a new anion-exchange membrane with semi-interpenetrating polymer networks and characterisation

Abstract

A new anion-exchange membrane was prepared using the semi-interpenetrating networks (SIPN) technique. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was chosen as the polymer matrix. Poly(1,3-diethyl-1-vinylimidazolium bromide) (PDVIBr) was first synthesised and characterised in order to use it as the cationic polyelectrolyte (Pe). The membrane was obtained by mixing aqueous PVA and Pe solutions (ratio 60/40), followed by evaporation and crosslinking with gaseous 1,2-dibromoethane. The influence of the crosslinking conditions on the sample properties was studied by infrared spectroscopy. The efficiency of the entrapment was monitored by swelling ratio and ion-exchange measurements. Ion-diffusion experiments, membrane conductivity measurements and ion-transport numbers calculations were performed on the membrane to highlight its ion-exchange properties.