Advancements in Ionomers for Fuel Cell Ion Exchange Membranes, Lithium Ion Battery Electrolyte Membranes and Supercapacitors

Scientists are being pushed to find more sustainable energy conversion and storage solutions as pollution levels rise, oil costs rise, and climate change becomes more problematic. Devices such as fuel cells, redox flow batteries, and electrolyzers are examples of devices that may significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. These devices rely on ionic conductive polymers or ionomers (protonic, anionic, and amphoteric). For a variety of applications ranging from mobile to automotive and cogeneration systems, such ionomers must have high chemical and mechanical stability, performance and durability, low reagent permeability, and weight, volume, and current density. Unfortunately, the expensive cost of perfluorinated ionomers, as well as anionic polymers' low stability in alkaline settings, limit their usage.