Title : Composite ion exchange membranes with nanometric building units
Abstract:
Main challenges for ion exchange membranes (IEM) are stability and durability. Various strategies have been developed to increase the IEM performances. Among them hybrid organic-inorganic materials show many interesting features: they have the ability to combine the functionality of organic compounds with the stability of inorganic materials. It is possible to distinguish between class I and II hybrids. Class I hybrids (or composites) are obtained dispersing inorganic components in a polymeric matrix. This approach was applied in many protonic membranes and in the last years also in a few anion exchange membranes. The composites are usually obtained mixing preformed nanoparticles or forming nanoparticles via in situ sol-gel reactions. The results are a stabilization of the polymeric phase and a decrease of the fuel crossover. However, a decrease of the conductivity is mostly observed due to the presence of a second phase. The reduction of the conductivity can be mitigate by the use of conducting fillers: the addition of layered double hydroxides containing ionic liquid to ionomer membranes improves the ionic conductivity at low and high humidity. In this presentation an overview of the different methods used to achieve composite IEM will be given.
Audience take away:
• Expertise in the synthesis of ion exchange membranes for different applications.
• Ion exchange membranes are very flexible soft materials. The study of nanocomposites opens new opportunities.
• Properties tuning is possible by variation of synthesis conditions.
