Semi-interpenetrating network anion exchange membranes based on flexible polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene and rigid Poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) for fuel cell applications

Balancing ion conductivity, mechanical strength, and alkali stability is a significant challenge in the application of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) in anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). In this study, rigid poly(4-vinylbiphenyl chloride) (PVB) and flexible polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) are selected as the polymer backbones to create semi-interpenetrating network (SIPN) AEMs. To achieve high ionic conductivity, quaternary ammonium groups are grafted onto each PVB structural unit, and TMHDA reacts with CMSEBS to construct a cross-linking network while also generating quaternary ammonium groups. This approach, along with well-defined micro-morphology, result in SIPN-SEBS/PVB-10 exhibiting an impressive ionic conductivity of 105.7 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. The SIPN structure, formed by the linear quaternary ammonium PVB and cross-linked SEBS, enhances the compatibility between the rigid and flexible components, resulting in good tensile strength (>14.5 Mpa) and elongation at break (>31.8%) for SIPN-SEBS/PVB AEMs at 25 °C in the wet state. Furthermore, SIPN-SEBS/PVB AEMs exhibit excellent chemical stability, in addition to the restricted swelling behavior, which can be attributed to the stable PVB and SEBS main chains. After immersion in a 1 M NaOH solution at 80 °C for 30 days, the degradation of backbones and cations in all membranes is less than 10% and 20%, respectively. Moreover, the peak power density of SIPN-SEBS/PVB-10 in an H2/O2 single fuel cell reaches an impressive value of 379 mW cm−2. Based on these excellent properties, the developed SIPN AEMs hold great promise as candidates for AEMFCs.