Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Anion-exchange Membranes Consisted of Quaternized Polysulfone and Layered Double Hydroxides

In order to improve the performance of quaternized polysulfone, layered double hydroxide (LDH) was prepared via coprecipitation and incorporated into chloromethylated polysulfone (CMPSF) solution to fabricate organic-inorganic membranes. Then the obtained hybrid membranes were converted into anionexchange membranes (AEM) by quaternization and alkalization. The X-ray diffraction was used to characterize LDH and AEM samples. The analysis of XRD suggested that LDH had an exfoliated morphology in the hybrid membrane with 3% LDH. When the content of LDH increased to 5%, LDH demonstrated an intercalated-exfoliated morphology in the hybrid membrane. While LDH showed an ordered structure in the hybrid membrane with 10% LDH, which displayed basal peaks characteristic of LDH. These results were consistent with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The water uptake, swelling ratio, mechanical property and ion conductivity of AEMs were also investigated. The results showed that the AEM containing 5% LDH had the best comprehensive performances, including the lowest water uptake and swelling ratio, the highest ultimate stress and ion conductivity. These ultimate values of the hybrid membrane with 5% LDH were 55% (water uptake) and 18% (swelling ratio) at 60 degrees C, 25. 8 MPa (mechanical property), 3. 81 x 10(-2) S/cm (ion conductivity) at 95 degrees C, respectively, which was promising for AEM fuel cells.