Phosphazene Polymer Electrolyte for Alkali-Stable Anion Conduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ion-conducting materials for fuel cells and water electrolysis devices face challenges with chemical stability, particularly alkali resistance, as anion-conducting materials with quaternary ammonium groups decompose easily in alkaline solutions, and cationized phosphazene rings are chemically unstable.

Innovation Solution

Development of a phosphazene bond-containing polymer with a hydrocarbon group bonded to the nitrogen atom and a nitrogen-containing group bonded to the phosphorus atom, enhancing alkali resistance and anion conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quaternary ammonium groups are used as anion-conducting materials, then anion conductivity is achieved, but chemical stability and alkali resistance deteriorate due to easy decomposition in alkaline aqueous solutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoiddecomposition in alkaline solution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters by replacing quaternary ammonium groups with phosphazene bonds containing specific substituents (hydrocarbon groups on nitrogen atoms and nitrogen-containing groups on phosphorus atoms), which fundamentally alters the chemical stability properties while maintaining anion conductivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining phosphazene bonds with specific hydrocarbon and nitrogen-containing groups, achieving a material that integrates both chemical stability and anion conductivity properties that neither component alone could provide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If cationized phosphazene rings are used, then anion conductivity is achieved, but chemical stability deteriorates due to decationization in alkaline solutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoiddecationization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the phosphazene ring structure by controlling the substitution pattern - specifically bonding hydrocarbon groups to nitrogen atoms and nitrogen-containing groups to phosphorus atoms - which prevents decationization while maintaining the anion-conducting capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of phosphazene ring decationization into a benefit by designing a structure where the phosphazene bond itself becomes the stable anion-conducting center, eliminating the need for cationization and thus preventing decationization issues while maintaining functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If proton-conducting membranes are used, then ion conductivity is achieved, but corrosiveness increases due to strong acidity requiring expensive noble metal catalysts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion conductivityVSAvoidcorrosiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by developing an anion-conducting membrane instead of a proton-conducting membrane, using phosphazene bonds with specific substituents to achieve ion conductivity through anion transport rather than proton transport, thereby eliminating strong acidity and its associated corrosiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental ion transport mechanism parameter from proton conduction to anion conduction, which inherently eliminates the strong acidity problem while maintaining the essential ion conductivity function needed for fuel cells and water electrolysis devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 phosphazene bond-containing polymer exhibits excellent alkali resistance and anion conductivity, making it suitable for use in fuel cells and water electrolysis devices as an anion exchange membrane or electrolyte material.

Implementation Method 1

the present invention relates to a phosphazene bond-containing polymer suitable for electrolyte materials, anion exchange membranes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnion exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 2

a phosphazene bond in which a hydrocarbon group is bonded to the nitrogen atom and a bond in which a nitrogen-containing group is bonded to the phosphorus atom give higher alkali resistance to a phosphazene bond

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical resistance:

Data Source

PatentUS20240166824A1Phosphazene bond-containing polymer

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention aims to provide a polymer having excellent alkali resistance and anion conductivity, a method of producing the polymer, an electrolyte material containing the polymer, and an anion exchange membrane containing the polymer. The present invention relates to a phosphazene bond-containing polymer containing a phosphorus atom constituting a phosphazene bond, the phosphorus atom including a phosphorus atom to which a nitrogen-containing group is bonded, and a nitrogen atom constituting the phosphazene bond, the nitrogen atom including a nitrogen atom to which a hydrocarbon group is bonded.