Highly Anion Conductive Cellulose Realized by One-Step, Facile, and Effective Introduction of Ammonium and Phenyl Alkyl Groups

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have attracted attention due to their applications in water electrolyzers, metal-air batteries, and redox flow batteries. However, developing AEMs with cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods is highly challenging. Herein, we demonstrate that a novel, one-step molecular modification of cellulose (powder, degreasing cotton, and natural cotton) provides AEMs very effectively. By controlling the feed molar ratio of reactants, cellulose AEMs (<b>QC-1</b>) having wide varieties of ion exchange capacity (0.63-1.54 mmol g^-1) and degree of substitution (0.52-1.39) were successfully prepared. <b>QC-1</b> achieved one of the highest OH^- conductivity values (∼42.6 mS cm^-1) among reported cellulose-based AEMs. <b>QC-1</b> showed good alkaline stability and moderate mechanical properties, which were applicable to a solid-state zinc-air battery (ZAB). The result would open a new era of AEM development, and in the future, green AEMs will further enhance the sustainability of clean energy conversion and storage devices.