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Phase Separated Methylated Polybenzimidazole (O‐PBI) Based Anion Exchange Membranes
Author(s) -
Germer Wiebke,
Leppin Janine,
Nunes Kirchner Carolina,
Cho Hyeongrae,
Kim HyoungJuhn,
Henkensmeier Dirk,
Lee KwanYoung,
Brela Mateusz,
Michalak Artur,
Dyck Alexander
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201400345
Subject(s) - membrane , swelling , hydroxide , bicarbonate , iodide , chloride , ionomer , materials science , ion exchange , small angle x ray scattering , carbonate , polymer , polymer chemistry , phase (matter) , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , ion , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , copolymer , biochemistry , physics , scattering , optics , metallurgy , engineering
Methylated polybenzimidazole (O‐PBI) based anion exchange membranes with a degree of methylation of ca. 78% were prepared in the iodide, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide form. Swelling in water showed a high anisotropy for chloride and carbonate exchanged membranes and a strong plasticizing effect of water was confirmed by DMA. Carbonate and bicarbonate exchanged membranes revealed an ionomer peak around 0.25 Å − 1 in SAXS measurements suggesting a phase separated morphology. Theoretical DFT calculations were used to characterize geometries and electronic structure of polymer models and interactions with different anions, and to rationalize the water uptake/swelling behavior.