Alkaline ionic liquids

Compared with proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) exhibit a number of competitive advantages, such as improved electrode reaction kinetics, allowing the use of non-noble metal electrocatalysts (such as Fe, Co and Ni), and reduced corrosion issues, which make fuel cells more cost-effective. However, the primary limitations of the use of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) in AEMFCs are still the low hydroxide ion OH− conductivity and poor chemical stability at high pH due to the degradation of cationic groups by direct nucleophilic substitution and/or Hofmann elimination. Based on the unique properties of alkaline ionic liquid (ILs), such as high thermal stability, high OH− conductivity and wide electrochemical window, we will further study the influence factors and mechanism of alkaline ionic liquids to significantly improve the thermal stability, electrical conductivity and other electrochemical properties of composite membranes.