Hierarchical Porous Polybenzimidazole Microsieves: An Efficient Architecture for Anhydrous Proton Transport via Polyionic Liquids

A Luminescent Proton Conductor Based on Dy2 SMM

Multifunctional materials bearing photoluminescence, single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior, and proton conduction have been particularly attractive for various promising applications in optics, molecular spintronics, high-density data storage, and fuel cells. However, these kinds of multifunctional systems have rarely been reported. Herein, a DyIII-SMM together with luminescent and proton-conducting properties, [Dy2(1-tza)4(phen)4]∙(ClO4)2∙(H2O)2 (1, 1-tza = 2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)acetic, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), was prepared and structurally characterized. Complex 1 features a dinuclear structure bridged by carboxylate oxygen atoms of the 1-tza- ligands, and its supramolecular network contains a 1D stacking channel. Complex 1 exhibits strong room-temperature DyIII characteristic emissions and SMM behaviors. In addition, complex 1 shows a moderate proton conductivity with 4.00 × 10-6 S cm-1 at 37 °C and 100% R.H. (R.H. = Relative Humidity), which may be ascribed to the 1D-extended H-bonds in the 1D stacking channel of 1.

A Pair of Multifunctional Cu(II)-Dy(III) Enantiomers with Zero-Field Single-Molecule Magnet Behaviors, Proton Conduction Properties and Magneto-Optical Faraday Effects

Multifunctional materials with a coexistence of proton conduction properties, single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviors and magneto-optical Faraday effects have rarely been reported. Herein, a new pair of Cu(II)-Dy(III) enantiomers, [DyCu2(RR/SS-H2L)2(H2O)4(NO3)2]·(NO3)·(H2O) (R-1 and S-1) (H4L = [RR/SS] -N,N'-bis [3-hydroxysalicylidene] -1,2-cyclohexanediamine), has been designed and prepared using homochiral Schiff-base ligands. R-1 and S-1 contain linear Cu(II)-Dy(III)-Cu(II) trinuclear units and possess 1D stacking channels within their supramolecular networks. R-1 and S-1 display chiral optical activity and strong magneto-optical Faraday effects. Moreover, R-1 shows a zero-field SMM behavior. In addition, R-1 demonstrates humidity- and temperature-dependent proton conductivity with optimal values of 1.34 × 10-4 S·cm-1 under 50 °C and 98% relative humidity (RH), which is related to a 1D extended H-bonded chain constructed by water molecules, nitrate and phenol groups of the RR-H2L ligand.

Polybenzimidazole Confined in Semi-Interpenetrating Networks of Crosslinked Poly (Arylene Ether Ketone) for High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane

As a traditional high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HT-PEM), phosphoric acid (PA)-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) is often subject to severe mechanical strength deterioration owing to the “plasticizing effect” of a large amount of PA. In order to address this issue, we fabricated the HT-PEMs with a crosslinked network of poly (arylene ether ketone) to confine polybenzimidazole in semi-interpenetration network using self-synthesized amino-terminated PBI (PBI-4NH₂) as a crosslinker. Compared with the pristine linear poly [2,2′-(p-oxdiphenylene)-5,5′-benzimidazole] (OPBI) membrane, the designed HT-PEMs (semi-IPN/xPBI), in the semi-IPN means that the membranes with a semi-interpenetration structure and x represent the combined weight percentage of PBI-4NH₂ and OPBI. In addition, they also demonstrate an enhanced anti-oxidative stability and superior mechanical properties without the sacrifice of conductivity. The semi-IPN/70PBI exhibits a higher proton conductivity than OPBI at temperatures ranging from 80 to 180 °C. The HT-PEMFC with semi-IPN/70PBI exhibits excellent H₂/O₂ single cell performance with a power density of 660 mW cm⁻² at 160 °C with flow rates of 250 and 500 mL min⁻¹ for dry H₂ and O₂ at a backpressure of 0.03 MPa, which is 18% higher than that of OPBI (561 mW cm⁻²) under the same test conditions. The results indicate that the introduction of PBI containing crosslinked networks is a promising approach to improve the comprehensive performance of HT-PEMs.

A Critical Review on the Use of Ionic Liquids in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

This work provides a comprehensive review on the incorporation of ionic liquid (ILs) into polymer blends and their utilization as proton exchanges membranes (PEM). Various conventional polymers that incorporate ILs are discussed, such as Nafion, poly (vinylidene fluoride), polybenzimidazole, sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone), and sulfonated polyimide. The methods of synthesis of IL/polymer composite membranes are summarized and the role of ionic liquids as electrolytes and structure directing agents in PEM fuel cells (PEMFCs) is presented. In addition, the obstacles that are reported to impede the development of commercial polymerized IL membranes are highlighted in this work. The paper concludes that the presence of certain ILs can increase the conductivity of the PEM, and consequently, enhance the performance of PEMFCs. Nevertheless, the leakage of ILs from composite membranes as well as the limited long-term thermal and mechanical stability are considered as the main challenges that limit the employment of IL/polymer composite membranes in PEMFCs, especially for high-temperature applications.

Exploring the Gas-Permeation Properties of Proton-Conducting Membranes Based on Protic Imidazolium Ionic Liquids: Application in Natural Gas Processing

This experimental study explores the potential of supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) based on protic imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) and randomly nanoporous polybenzimidazole (PBI) supports for CH₄/N₂ separation. In particular, three classes of SILMs have been prepared by the infiltration of porous PBI membranes with different protic moieties: 1-H-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide; 1-H-3-vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide followed by in situ ultraviolet (UV) polymerization to poly[1-(3H-imidazolium)ethylene] bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. The polymerization process has been monitored by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the concentration of the protic entities in the SILMs has been evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Single gas permeability values of N₂ and CH₄ at 313 K, 333 K and 363 K were obtained from a series of experiments conducted in a batch gas permeance system. The results obtained were assessed in terms of the preferential cavity formation and favorable solvation of methane in the apolar domains of the protic ionic network. The most attractive behavior exhibited poly[1-(3H-imidazolium)ethylene]bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) cross-linked with 1% divinylbenzene supported membranes, showing stable performance when increasing the upstream pressure. The CH₄/N₂ permselectivity value of 2.1 with CH₄ permeability of 156 Barrer at 363 K suggests that the transport mechanism of the as-prepared SILMs is solubility-dominated.