Long-term durable anion exchange membranes based on imidazole-functionalized poly(ether ether ketone) incorporating cationic metal−organic framework
Jiahui Ren, Jingmei Xu, Mengchi Ju, Xuan Chen, Pengyun Zhao, Lingxin Meng, Jinxuan Lei, Zhe Wang
Abstract
In this work, poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) was synthesized by direct polycondensation reaction. Subsequently, PEEK was functionalized by 1-vinylimidazole to prepare the polymer matrix (Im-PEEK). Cationic UiO-66-NH2 metal-organic frameworks (C-MOF) were synthesized as fillers. The structure of the C-MOF and the morphology of the membranes were verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The prepared hybrid membranes exhibited excellent alkali stability, among which Im-PEEK/C-MOF-1% could retain 89.2% of the conductivity compared to the original membrane after immersing in 1 mol L−1 NaOH solution for 320 h at 60 °C. In addition, the ionic conductivity of Im-PEEK/C-MOF-1% was 73 mS cm−1 at 80 °C, which was higher than that of pure Im-PEEK under the same condition (44.3 mS cm−1 at 80 °C). The results showed that the hybrid membranes have great potential for application in the field of anion exchange membranes.