Electrical conductivity of cation-and anion-exchange membranes in ampholyte solutions

Several laws governing ampholyte transport through ion-exchange membranes are established by a comparative analysis of the concentration dependence of electrical conductivity for homogeneous (CMX, AMX) and heterogeneous (MK-40, MA-41) membranes in NaCl, LysHCl, and NaH₂PO₄ solutions. The increase in the electrical conductivity of membranes in ampholyte solutions as the solutions become more dilute is explained by the increased fraction of divalent ions of the amino acid (cation-exchange membrane) or from phosphoric acid (anion-exchange membrane) in the membrane as a result of Donnan exclusion of hydrolysis products (hydroxide ions or protons, respectively).     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated homo‐ and co‐polyimides based on 2,4 and 2,5‐diaminobenzenesulfonic acid for proton exchange membranes

A series of sulfonated homo‐ and random co‐polyimides (co‐SPI) based on 2,4‐diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (2,4‐DABS) and 2,5‐diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (2,5‐DABS) has been synthesized via conventional two‐step polyimidization method. 2,4‐DABS and 2,5‐DABS were used as sulfonated diamine compounds, 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) were used as non‐sulfonated diamine compounds. Mixtures of sulfonated and non‐sulfonated diamine compounds were reacted with benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) to obtain co‐SPI membranes. Molar ratios of sulfonated to non‐sulfonated diamine were systematically varied to produce copolymers of controlled compositions. The co‐SPIs were evaluated for thermal oxidative stability, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, proton conductivity, solubility, and hydrolytic stability. Proton conductivity and hydrolytic stability of the co‐SPIs were compared with the fully aromatic polyimide, homo‐SPIs (BTDA/2,4‐DABS and BTDA/2,5‐DABS). Regarding thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis, it is concluded that desulfonation temperature in the range of 200–350°C suggests high stability of sulfonic acid groups. co‐SPIs with 40 mol% of 2,4‐DABS showed similar or higher proton conductivity than Nafion® 117 in water. Proton conductivity values of the co‐SPIs were mainly a function of IEC and water uptake. Consequently, the optimum concentration of 2,4‐DABS was found to be in the range of 30–40 mol% from the viewpoint of proton conductivity, IEC, and hydrolytic stability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

dc Proton conductivity at low‐frequency in Nafion conductivity spectrum probed by time‐resolved SAXS measurements and impedance spectroscopy

The electric transport properties of Nafion membranes are investigated by impedance spectroscopy (IS) and correlated with small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Detailed IS measurements in a wide range of temperature and frequencies (f) allowed separating contributions from different charge carriers in Nafion. At controlled relative humidity and temperature, Nafion IS spectrum exhibits at T > 160 °C two distinct frequency‐independent conductivities occurring at high f ～ 10⁶ Hz and low f < 10^?2 Hz. Such IS measurements were combined with time‐dependent SAXS measurements under applied dc electric potential, which provided compelling evidence that the low‐f dc conductivity is related to the motion of protons via ion‐hopping in hydrated Nafion membranes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 822–828     

Ionic conductivity of pure water in charged porous matrix

It is commonly recognized that the ionic conductivity of pure water is very poor because of very low ionic concentrations. However, this work indicates that pure water in charged porous matrixes can be moderately conductive because of the ions in the electric double layer established at the solid/water interfaces. The ionic conductivity of pure water in a charged matrix changes with the electrode potential of the matrix and is influenced by the structural parameters. Both experimental measurements and theoretical calculations reveal that ionic conductivity may reach the order of 10(-3) S cm(-1) in commonly accessible potential region in a porous matrix made of gold nanoparticles. These results would help to understand and optimize the electrode processes in electrochemical devices without deliberately added electrolytes, such as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.     

Acetylation and molecular mass effects on barrier and mechanical properties of shortfin squid chitosan membranes

Chitosan samples with different N-deacetylation levels were obtained from β-chitin under heterogeneous alkali conditions. Oxidative depolymerisation was performed to attain low-acetylated chitosan samples with different molecular mass. Water vapour permeability, membrane swelling and tensile mechanical properties were analysed in plasticized self-supporting chitosan membranes. The main purpose was to describe unambigously the effect of the biopolymer molecular mass and acetylation degree on these properties. Commercially available chitosan samples derived from α-chitin were also studied for comparison. The equilibrium degree of swelling in water and the water vapour permeability increase by increasing the molecular mass or the degree of acetylation. Regarding the effect on the mechanical properties, generally harder and tougher membranes were obtained for chitosans with higher molecular mass or lower acetylation degree. These observations are tentatively explained based on the different structural characteristics of the polymer and can lead to a better understanding of the tools necessary to tailor a specific type of chitosan membrane.     

烧绿石型复合氧化物结构及离子导电性

本文结合这两年来作者的研究工作,综述了烧绿石型复合氧化物的结构及离子导电性研究进展.系统介绍了烧绿石型复合氧化物的结构特点,分析了其传导机理、离子传导特性及国内外研究现状、应用前景和发展趋势.     

Synthesis and proton conductivity of sulfonated,multi‐phenylated poly(arylene ether)s

A series of sterically‐encumbered, sulfonated, poly(arylene ether) copolymers were synthesized and their proton conductivity examined. The series was prepared by copolymerizing a novel monomer, 2″,3″,5″,6″‐tetraphenyl‐[1,1′:4',1″:4″,1″':4″',1″″‐quinquephenyl]‐4,4″″‐diol, with 4,4'‐difluorobenzophenone and bisphenol A. Subsequent sulfonation and solution casting provided membranes possessing ion exchange capacities of 1.9 to 2.7 mmol/g and excellent mechanical properties (Young's modulus, 0.2–1.2 GPa; tensile strength, 35–70 MPa; elongation at break, 62–231%). Water uptake ranged from 34 to 98 wt% at 80 °C/100% RH. Proton conductivities ranged between 0.24 to 16 mS/cm at 80 °C/60% RH, and 3 to 167 mS/cm at 80 °C/95% RH. TEM analysis of the polymers, in the dehydrated state, revealed isolated spherical aggregates of ions, which presumably coalesce when hydrated to provide highly conductive pathways. The strategy of using highly‐encumbered polymer frameworks for the design of mechanically‐robust and dimensionally‐stable proton conducting membranes is demonstrated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2579‐2587     

Preparation of novel sulfonated block copolyimides for proton conductivity membranes

In this article novel sulfonated block copolyimides with various diamine compositions and block chain lengths were synthesized by chemical imidization using a two‐pot procedure. The proton conductivities of the block copolyimide membranes were measured as functions of the relative humidity and temperature using four‐point‐probe electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The proton conductivity of the membranes strongly depended on the block chain lengths and increased with an increase in the block chain lengths. The proton conductivity of NTDA‐BDSA‐b‐6FAP (112/48) as the block copolyimide membrane was approximately 0.35 S cm⁻¹ which indicated a higher value when compared to that determined for Nafion®. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measurement and Correlation of the Ionic Conductivity of Ionic Liauid-Molecular Solvent Solutions

The ionic conductivity of the solutions formed from 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate （[Bmim][BF4]） or 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate （[Bmim][PF6]） and different molecular solvents （MSs） were measured at 298.15 K. The molar conductivity of the ionic liquids （ILs） increased dramatically with increasing concentration of the MSs. It was found that the molar conductivity of the IL in the solutions studied in this work could be well correlated by the molar conductivity of the neat ILs and the dielectric constant and molar volume of the MSs.     

Optimization of anionic conductivity through the coexistence of ionomer cluster and backbone-backbone morphologies in anion exchange membranes

Random copolymers of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and polyisoprene were synthesized, and subsequently quaternized with 1-alkylbromides. The number of carbons on the pendant side-chain of the resultant comb-shaped polymer, n, ranged from 2–8. The comb-shaped polymers were crosslinked employing thiol-ene chemistry to give mechanically robust ion conducting membranes. Analysis by wide and medium-angle X-ray scattering show three morphology regimes that are dependent on the number of carbons on the pendant side-chains. When n = 2, ionomer cluster morphology was dominant, when n = 8 backbone-backbone morphology was dominant, and when n = 3–6, the membrane showed a coexistence of both ionomer cluster and backbone-backbone morphologies. Evaluation of the water uptake of the membranes showed a maximum water uptake per cation of 9.5 when n = 5 at 95% relative humidity (RH) and 60°C. Conductivity of the samples characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed bromide conductivity as high as 110 mS/cm when n = 3 at 95% RH and 90°C.     

Adsorption of Cu(II) on porous chitosan membranes functionalized with histidine

The ability of chitosan to form complexes with bivalent metal ions has been broadly explored in the literature. The present work investigates the influence of functionalization of macroporous chitosan membranes with histidine on their ability to remove copper ions from aqueous solution in the range of pH 4–6. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(II) ion was 2.5 mmol metal/g pristine chitosan membranes. Under this condition, no influence of membrane porosity was observed. However, for membranes with immobilized histidine, the porosity was shown to be a factor that affects the maximum adsorption capacity, with values ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 mmol metal/g chitosan. These results indicate that the immobilization of histidine on porous chitosan membranes presents synergy with porosity in the ability to complex Cu(II) ions. This synergy may be negative or positive, depending on the initial membrane porosity.     

Ionic conductivity of conjugated water-soluble rigid-rod polymers

Poly[(1,7-dihydrobenzo[1,2-d:4,5-d′] diimidazole-2,6-diyl)-2-(2-sulfo)-p-phenylene], a conjugated rigid-rod polymer, was derivatized with pendants of propane-sulfonated ionomers. The derivatized rigid-rod polymer was soluble in aprotic solvents as well as in water for isotropic solutions that were processed into isotropic films. Direct-current electrical conductivity σ of the films was measured using the four-probe technique. Room-temperature σ as high as 2.9 × 10^?4S/cm was achieved on pristine isotropic films without using dopants. When the rigid-rod polymer concentration exceeded 25 wt %, the isotropic solution could be transformed into a liquid-crystalline solution that allowed deformations to be applied to produce anisotropic films. Significant increase in σ was obtained in a sheared film along both the parallel direction (∥) and the transverse direction (⊥) with a σ_∥/σ_⊥ = 5. Additionally, enhanced σ was realized in films heat-treated at about 100°C, in the derivatized polymer with higher molecular weight from dialysis, and in substituting the sulfonated ion Na⁺ by H⁺ in the pendants of the polymers. Constant-voltage measurements were applied to the polymers to monitor the σ stability for ascertaining the nature of the conductivity. No electronic contribution in σ was detected. Instead, a monotonically decreasing σ was consistently observed indicative of ionic conductivity. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Improving the conductivity and dimensional stability of anion exchange membranes by grafting of quaternized dendrons

High conductivity is critical for the practical applications of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) in fuel cells. In this study, a new strategy for enhanced conductivity and dimensional stability of AEMs by incorporating quaternized dendrons is proposed. Thanks to the introduced quaternized dendrons, distinct nanoscale phase separation and well-connected ion conductive channels are formed in the as-prepared membranes (PPO-QG-x). As a result, PPO-QG-x AEMs achieve high hydroxide conductivities up to 65.5 mS cm⁻¹ at 20 °C and 121.5 mS cm⁻¹ at 80 °C (IEC = 1.95 mmol g⁻¹), while possessing good dimensional stability. Meanwhile, PPO-QG-x AEMs show good alkaline stability with the maximum loss in conductivity of 15.1% after treated in 2 M NaOH at 80 °C for 960 h. In addition, the single-cell assembled with PPO-QG-12 membrane exhibit a peak power density of 249.4 mW cm⁻² at 60 °C. Overall, this work provides a new insight to achieve high conductivity of AEMs.     

Effect of porosity on the effective electrical conductivity of different ceramic membranes used as separators in eletrochemical reactors

Different microporous ceramic membranes have been investigated to be used as separators in electrochemical reactors. The effect of porosity on the effective electrical conductivity of the ceramic membranes has been studied. The porosity of the membranes has been modified by changing the manufacturing pressure and by the addition of starch to the alumina–kaolin matrix. In the absence of starch the pore size distribution becomes more uniform with the increase of the manufacturing pressure, and lower porosities and average pore sizes are obtained. On the other hand, the porosity and the average pore size increase with the addition of starch to the alumina–kaolin matrix, but pore size distribution is less uniform and becomes bimodal with two different characteristic pore diameters.

The effective electrical conductivity of the membranes, κ_eff, increases with the decrease of manufacturing pressure and with the increase of starch content. The following correlation between the effective electrical conductivity and the porosity has been obtained: f_c = κ_eff/κ = 0.35 ^1.04, where κ is the electrolyte electrical conductivity.     

Reformulating the permselectivity-conductivity tradeoff relation in ion-exchange membranes

Polymer membranes used in separation applications exhibit a tradeoff between permeability and selectivity. That is, membranes that are highly permeable tend to have low selectivity and vice versa. For ion-exchange membranes used in applications such as electrodialysis and reverse electrodialysis, this tradeoff is expressed in terms of membrane permselectivity (i.e., ability to selectively permeate counter-ions over co-ions) and ionic conductivity (i.e., ability to transport ions in the presence of an electric field). The use of membrane permselectivity and ionic conductivity to illustrate a tradeoff between counter-ion throughput and counter-ion/co-ion selectivity in ion-exchange membranes complicates the analysis since permselectivity depends on the properties of the external solution and ionic conductivity depends on the transport of all mobile ions within a membrane. Furthermore, the use of these parameters restricts the analysis to ion-exchange membranes used in applications in which counter-ion/co-ion selectivity is required. In this study, the permselectivity-conductivity tradeoff relation for ion-exchange membranes is reformulated in terms of ion concentrations and diffusion coefficients in the membrane. The reformulated framework enables a direct comparison between counter-ion throughput and counter-ion/co-ion selectivity and is general. The generalizability of the reformulated tradeoff relation is demonstrated for cation-exchange membranes used in vanadium redox flow batteries.     

Effects of water freezing on the mechanical properties of nafion membranes

Most of the research efforts on Nafion have been devoted to the study of the perfluorinated ionomer membranes at optimal conditions for the desired applications, such as high temperature and low relative humidity for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM FC). In view of the possible changes induced by the freezing of water in the structure of Nafion and considering that in cold start conditions of a PEM FC device, Nafion needs to work also below 273 K, we measured the Young's modulus (Y) and the elastic energy dissipation (tan δ) in the temperature range between 90 and 470 K and the stress–strain curves between 300 and 173 K. The measurements reported here indicate that the mechanical properties of wet Nafion membrane change dramatically with temperature, that is, from a rubber‐like behavior at room temperature to a brittle behavior below 180 K. Moreover, we observed that the freezing of the nanoconfined water is complete only below 180 K, as indicated by a large increase of the Young's modulus. Between 180 and 300 K, the large values of tan δ suggest the occurrence of friction between the liquid water bound to the walls of the hydrophilic domains and the solid ice residing in the center of channels. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Ionic conductivity of complexes of novel multiarmed polymers with phosphazene core and LiClO4

Novel multiarmed polymers with ethylene oxide units, [( CH₂CH₂O)_n : 7, n = 3; 8, n= 7.2; 9, n = 11.8, and 12, n = 11.8] were prepared from the reaction of polyethylene glycol monomethyl ethers with acid chlorides of hexakis(3,5-dicarboxyphenoxy)-( 6 ) and hexakis(4-carboxyphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazenes ( 11 ) and conductivities of their Li⁺ salt complexes were investigated. The glass transition temperatures of the salt-free polymers are in the temperature range −59 to −54°C, indicative of a high degree of reorientational mobility of the arms. When LiClO₄ was added to the multiarmed polymers, the T_g values raised monotonically. The extent of T_g elevation was affected by the length of arms and the number of oxygen atoms around cyclotriphosphazene core and increased in the order 7 > 8 > 12 > 9 . The conductivities increased in the order 9 > 8 = 12 > 7 and the maximum conductivities of 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 30°C and 6.0 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 90°C have been achieved for the 9 -Li⁺ complex with Li⁺/O = 0.03. Interestingly, the conductivity of 9 -Li⁺ complexes at constant reduced temperatures increased in the whole concentrations of LiClO₄ examined (Li⁺/O = 0.01–0.2), although the degree of increase in conductivity above Li⁺/O = 0.06 became small. From the behaviors of T_g and the conductivity of multiarmed polymer–LiClO₄ complexes, it appears that the conductivity is governed by relative concentrations of inter- and intramolecular complexes in the polymer matrix. The influence of structural change of the comb-shaped to multiarmed polymers on the conductivity is described. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1839–1847, 1997     

Ionic self-assembled fluorescent microfibres with electrochemical properties

The fluorescent microfibres with redox-responsive properties were prepared via the ionic self-assembly route from complexes of redox-responsive N,N-dimethylferrocenylmethylhexadecylammonium bromide and methyl orange dye molecule. The length of microfibres is from tens of micrometres to almost a millimetre and the width is about 500 mm to 2 μm. Steady state fluorescence spectroscopy shows strong fluorescent properties of the supramolecular self-assembled microfibres, which may have potential applications in electro-photo molecular switching device.     

Fracture surfaces and tensile properties of UV‐irradiated spider silk fibers

A study of the influence of UV radiation on the tensile properties of spider silk has shown that the shape of the stress–strain curves is not affected by 254‐nm irradiation, except for a significant decrease in the tensile strength and strain at breaking. This decrease has been found in both forcibly silked and maximum‐supercontracted fibers, despite the different initial alignments of the protein chains. Local damage is also induced by UV radiation. With this procedure, it is possible to recover and analyze fracture surfaces. These show different granular microstructures that are characteristic of fibers spun from a solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 786–793, 2007     

Synthesis and proton conductivity studies of polystyrene‐based triazole functional polymer membranes

In this study, poly(vinylbenzylchloride) (PVBC) was produced by free‐radical polymerization of 4‐vinylbenzylchloride, and then it was functionalized with 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (ATri) and 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (Tri). The composition of the polymers was verified by elemental analysis, and the structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and ¹³C‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. PVBC was modified by ATri with 68% and Tri with 50% yield. The polymers were doped with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TA) at various molar ratios, X = 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 with respect to aminotriazole and triazole units. Proton transfer from TA to the triazole rings was proved with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the samples are thermally stable up to approximately 200 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry results illustrated the homogeneity of the materials. Under anhydrous conditions, PVBCATri3TA and PVBCTri3TA showed highest proton conductivity of 0.086 and 0.042 S/cm, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010