Polysulfone-composed Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane for Improved Ionic Conductivity

Alkaline anion exchange membranes of high ionic conductivities were developed from polysulfone. The effects of temperature and time on chloromethylation of the polymer were investigated and the chloromethylation was optimized. Different approaches for quaternization of the synthesized chloromethylated polymer were studied. The results show that both temperature and time exhibited significant impacts on chloromethylation and gelation. Using an appropriate quaternization approach could significantly improve the ionic conductivity and also could optimize the conductivity of the membrane even though the accessible functional chloromethyl groups were limited. The developed AAEM showed the ionic conductivity up to 3.1 x 10-2 S/cm at room temperature. Increasing temperature increased the ionic conductivity up to 7.33 x 10-2 S/cm.