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Anion exchange membranes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and quaternized polyethyleneimine for direct methanol fuel cells
Author(s) -
Yu Xu Pei,
Yi Guo Tian,
Hui Zhao Chun,
Broadwell Ian,
Gen Zhang Qiu,
Liu Qing Lin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.38592
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , membrane , thermogravimetric analysis , methanol fuel , methanol , polymer chemistry , polymer , polyelectrolyte , materials science , chemical engineering , ion exchange , interpenetrating polymer network , ionic conductivity , cationic polymerization , chemistry , organic chemistry , ion , composite material , electrolyte , electrode , biochemistry , engineering
The semi‐interpenetrating polymer network technique was applied in the preparation of anion exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Poly(vinyl alcohol) was chosen as the polymer matrix and quaternized polyethyleneimine was used as the cationic polyelectrolyte. To modify the polymer membranes for achieving desirable properties, 1,2‐bis(triethoxysilyl) ethane was used as a precursor to fabricate a set of organic–inorganic hybrid membranes. The hybrid membranes were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ionic conductivity, methanol permeability and stability under oxidative and alkaline conditions were measured to evaluate the applicability in DMFCs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013