Synthesis of an Imidazolium Ionic Liquid as an Additive to Enhance the Electrochemical Properties of Heterogeneous Anion Exchange Membranes

Abstract

In the current study, the synthesis of an imidazolium ionic liquid (imi@MCM‐41/Fe₃O₄) was carried out with the aim of its application as an additive to enhance the electrochemical properties of anion exchange membranes. In heterogeneous membranes, resin particles act as functional groups, and the uniform distribution of these particles on the membrane surface and their amount have a significant effect on the electrochemical properties of the resulting membranes. Imidazolium groups can act as functional groups in anion exchange membranes. Therefore, the addition of an ionic liquid with imidazolium functional groups was carried out with the double aim of increasing the number of functional groups and obtaining a more uniform distribution of resin particles on the membrane surface. The FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed the functionalization of ionic liquid with imidazolium groups and their size on a nanometer scale. The effect of the ionic liquid to the resin ratio on the electrochemical properties and on the hydrophilicity of the membrane was investigated. The results showed that the uniform distribution of resin particles on the membrane surface in the presence of ionic liquid nanoparticles as well as the presence of ionic liquid functional groups significantly improved the electrochemical properties of the membrane. At a concentration of 1 wt.%, the ion exchange capacity, permselectivity, and electrical resistance were enhanced by 73%, 9%, and 47%, respectively.