Issue 22, 2024

Alkaline stability of pendant C2-protected poly(imidazolium)s

Abstract

Non-fluorinated anion exchange polymers with sufficient ion exchange capacity, mechanical integrity and hydroxide-ion stability are required for the progression of alkaline electrochemical energy conversion devices. In this work, we present a new class of polycations, that possess C2-sterically protected imidazolium pendant groups which are incorporated via an olefinic backbone, and a synthetic route that requires no post-functionalization. The versatile 5-step synthetic route is a platform for future modifications of this family of C2-protected imidazolium-functionalised ion conducting polymers. Hydroxide-promoted degradation studies, along with DFT calculations, predict the robustness of polymers, with the benzyl-modified, C2-sterically protected imidazolium group showcasing a 8000 h half-life in 3 M NaOD/CD3OD/D2O at 80 °C. A humidity cycling degradation protocol, exposing the polymers to as low as 10 % relative humidity at 80 °C was implemented to reveal the relative chemical (in)stabilities of the polymers in extreme caustic conditions under accelerated timeframes.

Graphical abstract: Alkaline stability of pendant C2-protected poly(imidazolium)s

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 mar 2024
Accepted
14 may 2024
First published
16 may 2024

Polym. Chem., 2024,15, 2308-2317

Alkaline stability of pendant C2-protected poly(imidazolium)s

K. Fraser, A. Konovalova, T. Skalski, S. Cassegrain and S. Holdcroft, Polym. Chem., 2024, 15, 2308 DOI: 10.1039/D4PY00235K

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