Electrospun Modified Polyketone-Based Anion Exchange Membranes with High Ionic Conductivity and Robust Mechanical Properties

It is still a significant challenge to rationally design and delicately process or fabricate anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with high ionic conductivity, good mechanical properties, and sufficient alkaline stability. Here, a polyketone (PK) resin-based AEM was synthesized via the Paal–Knorr reaction and quaternary ammonium reaction, and then processed by electrospinning and hot pressing technologies. In contrast to a quaternized functional polyketone-based polyelectrolyte (QAFPK) fabricated by casting, the electrospun QAFPK shows higher hydroxide conductivity and robust mechanical properties. QAFPK-1-6-E realizes a hydroxide conductivity of 181 mS/cm at 80 °C and a tensile strength of 54 MPa. The microphase structure characterization indicates that the electrospinning process can induce the formation of an excellent ion-conducting structure. The electrospun PK-based AEM displays great application potential in a variety of electrochemical devices under alkaline conditions, such as alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AAEMFCs).