High Performance Radiation-Grafted Anion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes for Energy Applications

Abstract

This presentation will describe the latest research at the University of Surrey and the development of radiation-grafted anion-exchange membranes (RG-AEM) and ionomer powders (AEI) for use in devices such as alkali membrane fuel cells. The presentation will provide an overview of the following recent achievements: Synthesis of RG-AEMs with heterocyclic chemistries that are more stable to alkali that the those containing the benzyltrimethylammonium benchmark;Synthesis protocols that require reduced radiation doses, reduced amounts of monomer and the use of water rather than organic solvents;Synthesis of thinner RG-AEMs;The ability to produce RG-AEMs based on low density polyethylene (LDPE) rather than partially fluorinated ETFE;Synthesis of an interesting class of solid-state AEI powders;AEMs with high hydroxide conductivities and high performances in H2/O2 fuel cells. For example, the graph show the beginning-of-life 60°C H2/O2 fuel cell performances achieved with Pt-based catalysts and RG-AEMs made from 25 μm ETFE (red) and 13 μm ETFE (green) with no gas back-pressurization applied.