Molecular‐Level Energy Dissipation and Micropore Engineering Synergistically Enhance Anion Exchange Membrane Performance

Overcoming the intrinsic trade-off between ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness remains a long-standing challenge for anion exchange membranes (AEMs). Here, we report a helical tetra-functional building block derived from tetraphenyl-ethylene (TPE) that enables the simultaneous construction of interconnected ion-transport channels and mechanically reinforced polymer networks. The non-coplanar molecular configuration of TPE generates continuous microporous pathways, which establish efficient pathways for ion transport and enable 22.6% enhancement in H<sub>2</sub>O/OH<sup>-</sup> species diffusion. Meanwhile, restricted intramolecular rotations of the phenyl rings dissipate mechanical stress and prevent brittle fracture. Concurrently, the tetra-functional structure yields a cross-linked network, synergistically endowing the exceptional mechanical robustness of 79% enhancement in transverse tensile strength and 43% improvement in longitudinal hardness. Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) operating under harsh conditions of temperature and high alkalinity were used for application evaluation. The QTPE-x-configurated cell delivered an enhanced current density and exceptional operational stability. The molecular-level design strategy successfully decouples ionic conductivity and mechanical integrity, providing a general framework for the development of high-performance AEMs in sustainable energy conversion.

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Journal
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Published
2026-01-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202525998
Primary Topic
Fuel Cells and Related Materials
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article
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article

Molecular‐Level Energy Dissipation and Micropore Engineering Synergistically Enhance Anion Exchange Membrane Performance

Wanjie Song, Cui Yang, Shiyan Xiao, Xiaolin Ge et al.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Fuel Cells and Related Materials
article

Molecular‐Level Energy Dissipation and Micropore Engineering Synergistically Enhance Anion Exchange Membrane Performance

Wanjie Song, Cui Yang, Shiyan Xiao, Xiaolin Ge, Yu Huang
article en

Abstract

Overcoming the intrinsic trade-off between ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness remains a long-standing challenge for anion exchange membranes (AEMs). Here, we report a helical tetra-functional building block derived from tetraphenyl-ethylene (TPE) that enables the simultaneous construction of interconnected ion-transport channels and mechanically reinforced polymer networks. The non-coplanar molecular configuration of TPE generates continuous microporous pathways, which establish efficient pathways for ion transport and enable 22.6% enhancement in H<sub>2</sub>O/OH<sup>-</sup> species diffusion. Meanwhile, restricted intramolecular rotations of the phenyl rings dissipate mechanical stress and prevent brittle fracture. Concurrently, the tetra-functional structure yields a cross-linked network, synergistically endowing the exceptional mechanical robustness of 79% enhancement in transverse tensile strength and 43% improvement in longitudinal hardness. Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) operating under harsh conditions of temperature and high alkalinity were used for application evaluation. The QTPE-x-configurated cell delivered an enhanced current density and exceptional operational stability. The molecular-level design strategy successfully decouples ionic conductivity and mechanical integrity, providing a general framework for the development of high-performance AEMs in sustainable energy conversion.

Angewandte Chemie International EditionVol. 65(9)
University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Fuel Cells and Related Materials
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Molecular‐Level Energy Dissipation and Micropore Engineering Synergistically Enhance Anion Exchange Membrane Performance — Wanjie Song, Cui Yang, et al. · Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS