Evaluation of durability of A201 anion-exchange membranes towards organic solvents

Abstract Electrolysis using solid polymer electrolyte membranes, such as anion-exchange membranes (AEMs), is a promising technology for electrolysis and organic electrosynthesis. Herein, we report that the A201 membrane, a representative AEM widely used in AEM water electrolysis (AEMWE), exhibits remarkable durability in a wide range of organic solvents. The A201 membrane was soaked in various organic solvents for three weeks, and no significant physical changes, such as swelling and dissolution, were observed. AEMWE using A201 membrane soaked with organic solvents was performed with pure water at a current density of 25 mA cm –2 , enabling smooth electrolysis with reasonable cell voltage within the 2.2 − 2.7 V range. Water electrolysis was also performed using organic solvents while maintaining a relatively small cell voltage for 4 h. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to evaluate the charge transfer resistance, which revealed that the membrane resistance increased with increasing the polarity of the solvents. The A201 membrane exhibits chemical stability and maintains ionic conductivity in the presence of organic solvents, suggesting its potential suitability for applications in organic electrosynthesis. Graphical abstract