Alkaline ion exchange membranes are required for fuel cells.The membrane involves grafting of various ion exchange cationic moieties to thepolymer network by various grafting methods. The grafting moieties involved aretetraalkyl ammonium, tetraalkyl phosphonium cations, etc. which make themembranes conductive. Our current research work involves measuring theconductivity of these moieties in aqueous medium at various concentrations rangingfrom 0.2M to 2M and at increasing temperature. We have been carrying out theconductivity measurements at increasing temperatures to see its effect and wehave fitted an Arrhenius model for the temperature dependence of conductivity.We also plan to study the effect of CO2 on the reactivity and conductivityof these cations. These measurements have given data which is promising indeciding which cation to be grafted on the polymer backbone for increasedconductivity.

Solution conductivity measurements of cationic moieties: Applications in alkaline ion exchange membranes for fuel cells

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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