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Anion-Exchange Membranes in Electrochemical Energy Systems† Cite This: Energy Environ

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Anion-Exchange Membranes in Electrochemical Energy Systems† Cite This: Energy Environ Energy & Environmental Science View Article Online PERSPECTIVE View Journal | View Issue Anion-exchange membranes in electrochemical energy systems† Cite this: Energy Environ. Sci.,2014,7, 3135 John R. Varcoe,*a Plamen Atanassov,b Dario R. Dekel,c Andrew M. Herring,d Michael A. Hickner,e Paul. A. Kohl,f Anthony R. Kucernak,g William E. Mustain,h Kitty Nijmeijer,i Keith Scott,j Tongwen Xuk and Lin Zhuangl This article provides an up-to-date perspective on the use of anion-exchange membranes in fuel cells, electrolysers, redox flow batteries, reverse electrodialysis cells, and bioelectrochemical systems (e.g. microbial fuel cells). The aim is to highlight key concepts, misconceptions, the current state-of-the-art, Received 27th April 2014 technological and scientific limitations, and the future challenges (research priorities) related to the use Accepted 4th August 2014 of anion-exchange membranes in these energy technologies. All the references that the authors DOI: 10.1039/c4ee01303d deemed relevant, and were available on the web by the manuscript submission date (30th April 2014), are www.rsc.org/ees included. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. Broader context Many electrochemical devices utilise ion-exchange membranes. Many systems such as fuel cells, electrolysers and redox ow batteries have traditionally used proton-/cation-exchange membranes (that conduct positive charged ions such as H+ or Na+). Prior wisdom has led to the general perception that anion-exchange membranes (that conduct negatively charged ions) have too low conductivities and chemical stabilities (especially in high pH systems) for application in such technologies. However, over the last decade or so, developments have highlighted that these are not always signicant problems and that anion-exchange À membranes can have OH conductivities that are approaching the levels of H+ conductivity observed in low pH proton-exchange membrane equivalents. This article reviews the key literature and thinking related to the use of anion-exchange membranes in a wide range of electrochemical and bioelectrochemical systems that utilise the full range of low to high pH environments. This article is licensed under a Preamble Open Access Article. Published on 04 August 2014. Downloaded 9/25/2021 6:30:36 AM. aDepartment of Chemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK. E-mail: j. There is an increasing worldwide interest in the use of anion- [email protected]; Tel: +44 (0)1483 686838 exchange membranes (including in the alkaline anion forms), bDepartment of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico, in electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems. This Albuquerque, NM, 87131-0001, USA perspective stems from the “Anion-exchange membranes for cCellEra, Caesarea Business and Industrial Park, North Park, Bldg. 28, POBox 3173, energy generation technologies” workshop (University of Caesarea, 30889, Israel Surrey, Guildford, UK, July 2013), involving leading researchers dDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1 Golden, CO, 80401, USA in the eld, that focussed on the use of AEMs in alkaline 2 eDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (APEFCs), alkaline polymer elec- 3 4 University Park, PA, 16802, USA trolyte electrolysers (APEE), redox ow batteries (RFB), reverse fSchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, electrodialysis (RED) cells,5 and bioelectrochemical systems Atlanta, GA 30332-0100, USA including microbial fuel cells (MFCs)6 and enzymatic fuel cells.7 gDepartment of Chemistry, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK hDepartment of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Conventions used in this perspective article Storrs, CT, 06269-3222, USA iMembrane Science and Technology, University of Twente, MESA+ Institute for In this article the following terminology is dened: Nanotechnology, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands AEM is used to designate anion-exchange membranes in j À School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Science, non-alkaline anion forms (e.g. containing Cl anions); Agriculture and Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK AAEM used to designate anion-exchange membranes kSchool of Chemistry and Material Science, USTC-Yongjia Membrane Center, À À À containing alkaline anions (i.e. OH ,CO2 and HCO ); University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026 P. R. China 3 3 lDepartment of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China HEM is used to designate hydroxide-exchange membranes † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: This gives the and should only be used where the AAEMs are totally separated À biographies for all authors of this perspective. See DOI: 10.1039/c4ee01303d from air (CO2) and are exclusively in the OH form (with no This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 Energy Environ. Sci.,2014,7,3135–3191 | 3135 View Article Online Energy & Environmental Science Perspective 2À traces of other alkaline anions such as CO3 ); this is not the IEM is used to designate a generic ion-exchange membrane case in most of the technologies discussed in the article (a (can be either CEM or AEM). possible exception being APEEs); Note that in this review, all electrode potentials (E) are given AEI is used to designate an anion-exchange ionomer which as reduction potentials even if a reaction is written as an are anion-exchange polymer electrolytes in either solution or oxidation. dispersion form: i.e. anion-exchange analogues to the proton- exchange ionomers (e.g. Naon® D-52x series) used in proton- exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). AEIs are used as AEMs and AEIs for electrochemical polymer binders to introduce anion conductivity in the elec- systems trodes (catalyst layers). CEM is used to designate cation-exchange membranes in Summary of AEM chemistries used in such systems + non-acidic form (e.g. containing Na cations); AEMs and AEIs are polymer electrolytes that conduct anions, À À PEM is used to designate proton-exchange membranes (i.e. such as OH and Cl , as they contain positively charged + CEMs specically in the acidic H cation form); [cationic] groups (typically) bound covalently to a polymer backbone. These cationic functional groups can be bound Professor John Varcoe (Depart- Professor Michael Hickner ment of Chemistry, University of (Associate Professor, Depart- Surrey, UK) obtained both his ment of Materials Science and 1st class BSc Chemistry degree Engineering, Pennsylvania State (1995) and his Materials Chem- University, USA) focuses his Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. istry PhD (1999) at the Univer- research on the relationships sity of Exeter (UK). He was a between chemical composition postdoctoral researcher at the and materials performance in University of Surrey (1999– functional polymers to address 2006) before appointment as needs in new energy and water Lecturer (2006), Reader (2011) purication applications. His and Professor (2013). He is research group has ongoing recipient of an UK EPSRC Lead- projects in polymer synthesis, This article is licensed under a ership Fellowship (2010). His research interests are focused on fuel cells, batteries, water treatment membranes, and organic polymer electrolytes for clean energy and water systems: more electronic materials. His work has been recognized by a Presi- specically, the development of chemically stable, conductive dential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from anion-exchange polymer electrolytes. He is also involved in the President Obama (2009). He has co-authored seven US and Open Access Article. Published on 04 August 2014. Downloaded 9/25/2021 6:30:36 AM. University's efforts on biological fuel cells. international patents and over 100 peer-reviewed publications with >5400 citations. Dr Dario Dekel (Co-Founder and Professor Paul Kohl (Hercules VP for R&D and Engineering, Inc./Thomas L. Gossage Chair, CellEra, Israel) received his Regents' Professor, Georgia MBA, MSc and PhD in Chemical Institute of Technology, USA) Engineering from the Technion, received a Chemistry PhD Israel Institute of Technology. (University of Texas, 1978). He He was the chief scientist and was then involved in new chem- top manager at Rafael Advanced ical processes for silicon and Defense Systems, Israel, where compound semiconductor he led the world's second largest devices at AT&T Bell Laborato- Thermal Battery Plant. He le ries (1978–89). In 1989, he Rafael in 2007 to co-found Cel- joined Georgia Tech.'s School of lEra, leading today a selected Chemical and Biomolecular group of 14 scientists and engineers, developing the novel Alkaline Engineering. His research includes ionic conducting polymers, high Membrane Fuel Cell technology. He currently holds $3M govern- energy density batteries, and new materials and processes for ment research grants from Israel, USA and Europe. Dr Dekel holds advanced interconnects for integrated circuits. He has 250 papers, 14 battery and fuel cell patents. is past Editor of JES and ESSL, past Director MARCO Interconnect Focus Center, and President of the Electrochemical Society (2014–15). 3136 | Energy Environ. Sci.,2014,7,3135–3191 This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 View Article Online Perspective Energy & Environmental Science either via extended side chains (alkyl or
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