Open Access

ARTICLE

Bi-Crown-Ether Modified Bi-Piperidinium Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

Minghao Yuan^1,2, Lingling Ma^1,2, Lv Li^1,2, Shoutao Gong^1,2, Lei Bai^1,2, Yanzhen Ren^1,2, Xinli Zhang^1,2, Naeem Akhtar Qaisrani^3,*, Fengxiang Zhang^1,2,*
1 State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
2 School of Chemical Engineering, Ocean and Life Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin, 124221, China
3 Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT), Abu Dhabi Rd, Rahim Yar Khan, 64200, Pakistan
* Corresponding Author: Naeem Akhtar Qaisrani. Email: ; Fengxiang Zhang. Email:

Journal of Polymer Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.071240

Received 03 August 2025; Accepted 30 October 2025; Published online 28 November 2025

Abstract

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells require membranes with a balance of high conductivity and durability. In this work, a novel bi-crown-ether modified piperidine structure was designed and synthesized, which was then introduced into the side chain of poly(arylene piperidinium), making a unique bi-crown-ether modified bi-piperidinium side chain grafted polymer for AEM fabrication. The double crown ether units enhanced cation–water interactions and promoted microphase separation, thereby forming efficient hydroxide ion transport channels. The resulting membrane exhibited high water uptake, well-defined ion clusters, and a hydroxide conductivity of 123 mS cm⁻¹ at 80°C with an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 1.56 mmol g⁻¹. After alkaline treatment in 1 M NaOH at 80°C for 960 h, the membrane retained ~85% of its initial conductivity, demonstrating excellent chemical stability. In H₂/O₂ fuel cell tests at 60°C, the membrane achieved a peak power density of 558 mW cm⁻² at 1040 mA cm⁻². These findings highlight the potential of bi-crown-ether modified piperidinium side chain grafting as an effective strategy to enhance ion conduction properties of AEMs for fuel cell applications.

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Keywords

Anion exchange membrane; fuel cell; crown ether; piperidinium; conductivity

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