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Synthetic strategies towards ether-free polymeric hydroxide conducting membranes

Mansouri Bakvand, Pegah LU (2025)
Abstract
The only way to combat the depletion of resources and climate crisis is to reduce
our dependence on fossil fuels. Renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy,
are increasingly used to meet our ever-growing energy demands; however, they are
intermittent. One promising solution to the power crisis in the world is fuel cells,
which, unlike the combustion engine, can operate on renewable fuels such as
hydrogen, methanol, and ethanol without emitting pollutants with high efficiency.
A conventional type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell is proton exchange fuel cells
(PEMFCs), which have already moved from laboratory to market; however, the
usage of Pt catalyst makes them costly and unstable. On the other hand,... (More)
The only way to combat the depletion of resources and climate crisis is to reduce
our dependence on fossil fuels. Renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy,
are increasingly used to meet our ever-growing energy demands; however, they are
intermittent. One promising solution to the power crisis in the world is fuel cells,
which, unlike the combustion engine, can operate on renewable fuels such as
hydrogen, methanol, and ethanol without emitting pollutants with high efficiency.
A conventional type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell is proton exchange fuel cells
(PEMFCs), which have already moved from laboratory to market; however, the
usage of Pt catalyst makes them costly and unstable. On the other hand, the fuel
cells operating in alkaline media, anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs)
can use nonprecious-metal catalysts with higher redox reaction kinetics. However,
the technology of AEMFCs is currently less developed than that of PEMFCs due to
several challenges, including the need for high-performing anion exchange
membranes (AEMs) that can meet all requirements. The two main challenges
hampering the development of AEMs for fuel cells are the lower conductivity of
PEMs and the lower thermochemical stability in alkaline media. It is worth noting
that research efforts now focus on obtaining stable polymer AEMs with high
efficiency and low degradation in alkaline media.
This thesis aims to investigate different structural factors, including polymer
backbone, and the design and placement of cationic moieties on the final properties
of AEMs. Several ether-free polymers were synthesized through superacidmediated
polyhydroxyalkylation reactions and, after required functionalization,
were conducted to make fully quaternized polymers. AEMs were prepared from the
polymers and investigated in terms of water uptake, ion conductivity, thermal
properties, morphology, and alkaline stability. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Dr. Tavajohi, Naser, Umeå University, Sweden.
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Anion exchange membrane, ion conductivity, Polyhydroxyalkylation, ether-free polymer, Quaternary ammonium, Alkaline stability
pages
73 pages
publisher
Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Lund University
defense location
Lecture Hall KC:A, Kemicentrum, Naturvetarvägen 22, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund.
defense date
2025-03-07 09:30:00
ISBN
978-91-8096-098-4
978-91-8096-099-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b16c9bbd-7433-4677-8d2e-798338898016
date added to LUP
2025-02-06 09:24:57
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:58:36
@phdthesis{b16c9bbd-7433-4677-8d2e-798338898016,
  abstract     = {{The only way to combat the depletion of resources and climate crisis is to reduce<br/>our dependence on fossil fuels. Renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy,<br/>are increasingly used to meet our ever-growing energy demands; however, they are<br/>intermittent. One promising solution to the power crisis in the world is fuel cells,<br/>which, unlike the combustion engine, can operate on renewable fuels such as<br/>hydrogen, methanol, and ethanol without emitting pollutants with high efficiency.<br/>A conventional type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell is proton exchange fuel cells<br/>(PEMFCs), which have already moved from laboratory to market; however, the<br/>usage of Pt catalyst makes them costly and unstable. On the other hand, the fuel<br/>cells operating in alkaline media, anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs)<br/>can use nonprecious-metal catalysts with higher redox reaction kinetics. However,<br/>the technology of AEMFCs is currently less developed than that of PEMFCs due to<br/>several challenges, including the need for high-performing anion exchange<br/>membranes (AEMs) that can meet all requirements. The two main challenges<br/>hampering the development of AEMs for fuel cells are the lower conductivity of<br/>PEMs and the lower thermochemical stability in alkaline media. It is worth noting<br/>that research efforts now focus on obtaining stable polymer AEMs with high<br/>efficiency and low degradation in alkaline media.<br/>This thesis aims to investigate different structural factors, including polymer<br/>backbone, and the design and placement of cationic moieties on the final properties<br/>of AEMs. Several ether-free polymers were synthesized through superacidmediated<br/>polyhydroxyalkylation reactions and, after required functionalization,<br/>were conducted to make fully quaternized polymers. AEMs were prepared from the<br/>polymers and investigated in terms of water uptake, ion conductivity, thermal<br/>properties, morphology, and alkaline stability.}},
  author       = {{Mansouri Bakvand, Pegah}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8096-098-4}},
  keywords     = {{Anion exchange membrane; ion conductivity; Polyhydroxyalkylation; ether-free polymer; Quaternary ammonium; Alkaline stability}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Synthetic strategies towards ether-free polymeric hydroxide conducting membranes}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/207854872/Thesis_Pegah_Mansouri_LUCRIS.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}