Facilitating Rapid OH<sup>−</sup>/H<sub>2</sub>O Transport in Anion Exchange Membranes via Ultra‐Stable Heteroatom‐Free Micropores

Abstract Efficient OH − conduction in anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is pivotal for the advancement and industrialization of sustainable electrochemical technologies in alkaline environments, including water electrolysis, fuel cells, and CO 2 electroreduction. We here designed AEMs with a novel class of rigid heteroatom‐free micropores (HFMs), engineered at the molecular level to facilitate rapid ionic transport in an ultra‐stable manner. By manipulating monomers, our design strategically controls the torsional angles and energy barriers within the polymeric backbones, creating sub‐nanometer ionic channels that precisely regulate porosity. These hydrophilic micropores significantly enhance the mobility of OH − /H 2 O, achieving over a 150 % increase in self‐diffusion coefficient compared to commercial AEMs and elevating OH − conductivity to a leading 215 mS cm −1 at 80 °C. Moreover, the robust carbon‐carbon bond construction in HFMs offers the stability that is four orders of magnitude higher under severe alkaline conditions compared to existing wisdoms, with a demonstrated operational lifespan of over 4000 hours. The integration of HFM‐AEMs into water electrolyzers not only supports the use of platinum group metal‐free catalysts but also exhibits exceptional energy efficiency and extended durability, highlighting their substantial potential for wide‐ranging applications in emerging electrochemical technologies.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2024-12-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202418435
Citations
8
Primary Topic
Fuel Cells and Related Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.67
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article

Facilitating Rapid OH−/H2O Transport in Anion Exchange Membranes via Ultra‐Stable Heteroatom‐Free Micropores

Jiekang Tian, Ziang Xu, Baoguo Wang, Maobin Pang et al.
8 citations
Angewandte Chemie
Fuel Cells and Related Materials
1.67
article

Facilitating Rapid OH−/H2O Transport in Anion Exchange Membranes via Ultra‐Stable Heteroatom‐Free Micropores

Jiekang Tian, Ziang Xu, Baoguo Wang, Maobin Pang, Qin Xu, Dongcheng Lin, Jing Liu, Yihan Zhen
article en
8 citations

Abstract

Abstract Efficient OH − conduction in anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is pivotal for the advancement and industrialization of sustainable electrochemical technologies in alkaline environments, including water electrolysis, fuel cells, and CO 2 electroreduction. We here designed AEMs with a novel class of rigid heteroatom‐free micropores (HFMs), engineered at the molecular level to facilitate rapid ionic transport in an ultra‐stable manner. By manipulating monomers, our design strategically controls the torsional angles and energy barriers within the polymeric backbones, creating sub‐nanometer ionic channels that precisely regulate porosity. These hydrophilic micropores significantly enhance the mobility of OH − /H 2 O, achieving over a 150 % increase in self‐diffusion coefficient compared to commercial AEMs and elevating OH − conductivity to a leading 215 mS cm −1 at 80 °C. Moreover, the robust carbon‐carbon bond construction in HFMs offers the stability that is four orders of magnitude higher under severe alkaline conditions compared to existing wisdoms, with a demonstrated operational lifespan of over 4000 hours. The integration of HFM‐AEMs into water electrolyzers not only supports the use of platinum group metal‐free catalysts but also exhibits exceptional energy efficiency and extended durability, highlighting their substantial potential for wide‐ranging applications in emerging electrochemical technologies.

Angewandte ChemieVol. 137(6)
National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (China) (CN), Rice University (US), Tsinghua University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Fuel Cells and Related Materials
1.67
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