Remarkable Conductivity and Durability of Anion Exchange Membrane With Poly(Fluorene-Terphenyl Piperidinium) Incorporating Graphene Oxide

Abstract

We present a series of organic–inorganic composite membranes containing graphene oxide (GO) and quaternized poly(fluorene-terphenyl piperidinium) (QPFTP) polymer to enhance ion conductivity and physicochemical properties. Utilizing the hydrophilic functional groups and robust support of GO, the composite membrane accomplishes improved ion exchange capacity (IEC), swelling ratio, water uptake, and electrochemical performance. The interaction between polymer chains and GO, facilitated by the interface between quaternized ammonium groups on the polymer and oxygen functional groups on the filler support, promotes hydrogen bond formation. Based on our experiments and results, it was proven that the introduction of GO improves the alkaline stability of the membrane, and the optimal GO content was confirmed to be 0.7 wt%. Consequently, the ion conductivity of QPFTP-GO-0.7 reaches 198.2 mS cm⁻¹, demonstrating superior performance compared to the pristine membrane (126.5 mS cm⁻¹). Furthermore, the single cell performance of QPFTP-GO-0.7 achieves a power density of 347.6 mW cm⁻² in an H₂/O₂ environment at 60°C. The findings from this research are expected to contribute to the advancement of anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology, offering insights into the design and development of next-generation membranes for sustainable energy applications.