Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun 130012 P. R. China
Abstract
AbstractProton exchange membranes (PEMs) with excellent durability and working stability are important for PEM fuel cells with extended service life and enhanced reliability. In this study, highly elastic, healable, and durable electrolyte membranes are fabricated by the complexation of poly(urea–urethane), ionic liquids (ILs), and MXene nanosheets (denoted as PU–IL–MX). The resulting PU–IL–MX electrolyte membranes have a tensile strength of ≈3.86 MPa and a strain at break of ≈281.89%. The PU–IL–MX electrolyte membranes can act as high temperature PEMs to conduct protons under an anhydrous condition of the temperatures above 100 °C. Importantly, the ultrahigh density of hydrogen‐bond‐cross‐linked network renders PU–IL–MX membranes excellent IL retention properties. The membranes can maintain more than ≈98% of their original weight and show no decline of proton conductivity after being placed under highly humid conditions of ≈80 °C and relative humidity of ≈85% for 10 days. Moreover, due to the reversibility of hydrogen bonds, the membranes can heal damage under the working conditions of fuel cells to restore their original mechanical properties, proton conductivities, and cell performances.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Materials Chemistry,Polymers and Plastics,Organic Chemistry