Polymeric materials for electrochemical cells and ion separation processes
Polymers of intrinsic microporosity are provided herein. Disclosed polymers of intrinsic microporosity include modified polymers of intrinsic microporosity that include negatively charged sites or crosslinking between monomer units. Systems making use of polymers of intrinsic microporosity and modified polymers of intrinsic microporosity are also described, such as electrochemical cells and ion separation systems. Methods for making and using polymers of intrinsic microporosity and modified polymers of intrinsic microporosity are also disclosed.
1. A modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having a plurality of repeat units, wherein at least one of the repeat units includes one or more negative charges; and
wherein at least one of the repeat units includes one or more charged moieties selected from the group consisting of:
where subscript m and subscript o are independently integers selected from 1 to 8.
2. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the repeat units further includes a negatively charged oxygen site, a negatively charged sulfur site, a negatively charged carbon site, or any combination thereof.
3. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 1 , wherein at least one the repeat units have a structure selected from the group consisting of:
where subscript m and subscript o are independently integers selected from 1 to 8, and wherein subscript n is an integer selected from 10 to 1000.
4. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 1 , wherein the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is crosslinked or wherein at least one repeat unit is crosslinked with a non-adjacent repeat unit.
5. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 1 , wherein at least one repeat unit is crosslinked with a non-adjacent repeat unit by a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)cyclohexanone, 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)-4-methylcyclohexanone, 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)-4-ethylcyclohexanone, 4-azidophenylsulfone, and any combination of these.
6. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 1 , wherein a surface area of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is at least 300 m 2 /g.
7. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 1 , further comprising a support membrane in contact with the polymer of intrinsic microporosity.
8. An electrochemical cell comprising:
an anode;
an anode electrolyte in contact with the anode;
a separator in contact with the anode electrolyte, wherein the separator comprises a polymer of intrinsic microporosity;
a cathode electrolyte in contact with the separator; and
a cathode in contact with the cathode electrolyte; and
wherein the polymer of intrinsic microporosity has a plurality of repeat units, wherein at least one of the repeat units includes one or more negative charges; and wherein
at least one of the repeat units includes one or more charged moieties selected from the group consisting of:
where subscript m and subscript o are independently integers selected from 1 to 8; or
at least one the repeat units have a structure selected from the group consisting of:
where subscript m and subscript o are independently integers selected from 1 to 8, and wherein subscript n is an integer selected from 10 to 1000.
9. The electrochemical cell of claim 8 , wherein the separator further comprises a support membrane in contact with the polymer of intrinsic microporosity.
10. The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein the support membrane comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers, polypropylene, polypropylene copolymers, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylonitrile copolymers, poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(tetrafluoroethylene), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylchloride) copolymers, poly(hexafluoropropylene), poly(hexafluoropropylene) copolymers, polyaramide, any combination thereof, and any copolymers thereof.
11. The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein the support membrane has a melting temperature, and wherein exposing the support membrane to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature causes at least a portion of the support membrane to melt and close pores within the separator.
12. The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the repeat units further includes a negatively charged oxygen site, a negatively charged sulfur site, a negatively charged carbon site, or any combination thereof.
13. The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is crosslinked or wherein at least one repeat unit is crosslinked with a non-adjacent repeat unit.
14. The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein a surface area of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is at least 300 m 2 /g.
15. A modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity comprising a polymer of intrinsic microporosity having a plurality of repeat units, wherein at least one of the repeat units includes one or more negative charges; and
wherein at least one the repeat units have a structure selected from the group consisting of:
where subscript m and subscript o are independently integers selected from 1 to 8, and wherein subscript n is an integer selected from 10 to 1000.
16. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the repeat units further includes a negatively charged oxygen site, a negatively charged sulfur site, a negatively charged carbon site, or any combination thereof.
17. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 15 , wherein the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is crosslinked or wherein at least one repeat unit is crosslinked with a non-adjacent repeat unit.
18. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 15 , wherein at least one repeat unit is crosslinked with a non-adjacent repeat unit by a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)cyclohexanone, 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)-4-methylcyclohexanone, 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)-4-ethylcyclohexanone, 4-azidophenylsulfone, and any combination of these.
19. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 15 , wherein a surface area of the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is at least 300 m 2 /g.
20. The modified polymer of intrinsic microporosity of claim 15 , further comprising a support membrane in contact with the polymer of intrinsic microporosity.