Synthesis of Alkaline Anion Exchange Membranes with Chemically Stable Imidazolium Cations: Unexpected Cross-Linked Macrocycles from Ring-Fused ROMP Monomers

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00209
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T18:59:27Z
• Authors: Wei You; Kristina M. Hugar; Geoffrey W. Coates
• Keywords: ROMP

In order to prepare base-stable, mechanically strong, and synthetically feasible alkaline anion exchange membranes (AAEMs) for applications in fuel cells, an imidazolium-fused cyclooctene monomer was prepared subjected ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) conditions. Surprisingly, macrocyclic oligomers were obtained instead of high molecular weight polymers. High-performance AAEMs synthesized by using a bifunctional cross-link the macrocycles. The resultant showed ionic conductivities (σOH– = 59 mS/cm at 50 °C), robust mechanical properties, excellent stabilities.