Tetrazole functionalization: a new strategy toward stable alkaline ion-solvating polymer electrolytes

Abstract

Ion-solvating polymer electrolytes have the potential to drastically lower the ohmic resistance in alkaline water electrolyzers without compromising gas purity, but the stability remains to be improved. This work shows that the tetrazole scaffold is remarkably stable in alkaline environment and demonstrates an operationally simple one-step procedure to convert a commercially available vinyl polymer into an ion-solvating polymer electrolyte.