LAUSR

In order to improve the alkaline stability of polyarylether-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs), the strategy of attaching a hydrophobic side-chain to the backbone is proposed. A series of AEMs which include three original quaternary ammonia AEMs (QAPSF, QAPPSU, and QAPPO) and three hydrophobic side-chain attached AEMs (sQAPSF, sQAPPSU, and sQAPPO) are synthesized. Although a gradual enhancement of chemical stabilities for QAPSF, QAPPSU, and QAPPO is observed by reducing backbone polar groups, degradation of the original QA-type AEMs is still obvious. After testing in 1 M N2-saturated NaOH solution at 60 °C for 30 days, the weight losses of the original QA-type AEMs exceed 29%; the IEC losses of the AEMs exceed 24%, and the IC losses of the AEMs exceed 25% (IEC, ion exchange capacity). While for s-type AEMs, due to the hydrophobic side-chains endowing the membranes with hydrophilic/hydrophobic microphase separation morphologies, the backbones are protected from OH– attacking; significant improvements of...