Anion-Conducting Polymer Membranes With Controlled Swelling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anion-conducting membranes for electrochemical applications, such as electrolyzers and fuel cells, face challenges with extensive water uptake leading to mechanical damage, high gas permeability risks, and expensive precursor materials, making them costly and difficult to produce at an industrial scale.
Innovation Solution
Development of polymeric compounds with specific structural units, including a nitrogen atom with a positive charge bonded to hydrocarbon radicals and aromatic rings substituted with alkyl groups, which are cost-effective to produce and exhibit high mechanical stability, low swelling, and high anion conductivity, suitable for use in electrochemical cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional anion-conducting membranes are used, then anion conductivity is achieved, but extensive water uptake causes mechanical damage and high gas permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of the polymer by introducing specific hydrophobic groups and adjusting the ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic segments. This changes the material parameters to achieve optimal water uptake between 30-80%, preventing both excessive swelling and insufficient conductivity. The controlled parameter change resolves the contradiction between mechanical stability and water uptake.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite polymer structure combining hydrophilic anion-conducting segments with hydrophobic mechanically stable segments. This composite approach allows the material to simultaneously exhibit good anion conductivity through the hydrophilic pathways while maintaining mechanical integrity through the hydrophobic matrix, thus resolving the contradiction between conductivity and mechanical stability.
2Reliability
If expensive precursor materials are used, then proper anion-conducting properties are achieved, but preparation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive precursor materials with cheaper, readily available monomers and reagents. The invention uses common chemical building blocks that can be obtained at lower cost, thereby reducing preparation costs while maintaining the required anion-conducting properties through optimized molecular design rather than relying on expensive starting materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the precursor materials to use more economical compounds. By adjusting the molecular structure parameters to incorporate cheaper building blocks while maintaining the essential anion-conducting functionality, the preparation cost is reduced without sacrificing performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex preparation conditions are used, then proper membrane properties are achieved, but industrial scale production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex preparation steps from the synthesis process. The invention achieves proper membrane properties through simplified reaction conditions, avoiding cumbersome purification steps and complex processing requirements. This extraction of complexity enables straightforward scaling to industrial production while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the preparation parameters to more favorable values that simplify the process. Reaction temperatures, times, and conditions are optimized to be less stringent and more amenable to industrial scale production, while still achieving the required membrane properties. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new compounds demonstrate enhanced mechanical stability, low swelling characteristics, and high anion conductivity, making them suitable for industrial-scale production and use in electrochemical cells, while maintaining efficient separation properties.
Implementation Method 1
Anion-conducting properties of disclosed compounds making this material suitable for preparing anion-conducting membranes
Implementation Method 2
they need to be stable against extensive swelling or deformation (wrinkling) caused by extensive water uptake within the polymeric structure
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides (polymeric) compounds and a process for preparation thereof. Intended use is in field of electrochemistry. Anion-conducting properties of disclosed compounds making this material suitable for preparing anion-conducting membranes. It is object of present invention to provide an easy-to-prepare material with proper anion-conducting properties and controlled swelling. Inexpensive precursors shall be used for synthesis. This problem has been solved by providing compounds characterized by at least one unit of the formula (I) with X being a structure element comprising at least one nitrogen atom with a positive charge bonded to C1 and C2 and bonded via two bonds to one or two hydrocarbon radical(s) comprising 1 to 12 carbon atoms and Z being a structure element comprising a carbon atom being bonded to C3 and C4 and at least one aromatic 6-ring directly bonded to one of the oxygen atoms, wherein said aromatic 6-ring is substituted in position 3 and 5 with the same or different alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms