Anion-conducting polymer
Disclosed herein are anion-conducting polymers that comprise a cationic benzimidazolium and imidazolium moieties. Methods of forming the polymers and membranes comprising the polymers are also provided.
1. A polymer comprising one or more repeating units, wherein at least one of the repeating units comprises one or more benzimidazolium-containing moieties having Formula (I-A):
wherein:
R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, alkoxy, perfluoroalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl group and a polymer;
R 2 is alkyl;
R 2 ′, at each occurrence, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and a polymer;
R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, perfluoroalkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, and a polymer; and
R 5 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and a polymer;
wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 ′, R 3 , and R 5 is a polymer.
2. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a salt formed with an anion selected from the group consisting of iodide, hydroxide, chloride, bromide, fluoride, cyanide, acetate, carbonate, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, triflate, and tosylate.
3. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the benzimidazolium-containing moiety is included in a main chain of the polymer.
4. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the benzimidazolium-containing moiety is included in a pendant group of the polymer.
5. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein the benzimidazolium-containing moiety is part of a crosslink of the polymer.
6. An ionic membrane comprising a cationic polymer of claim 1 .
7. The ionic membrane of claim 6 , further comprising an anionic polymer.
8. The ionic membrane of claim 7 , wherein the cationic polymer is ionically bound to the anionic polymer.
9. The ionic membrane of claim 6 , further comprising an acidic polymer.
10. The ionic membrane of claim 9 , wherein the acidic polymer comprises a benzimidazole-containing moiety.
11. The ionic membrane of claim 9 , wherein the cationic polymer is bound to an anionic polymer created in situ after the deprotonation of the acidic polymer.
12. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of methyl and trifluoromethyl.
13. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of methyl and trifluoromethyl.
14. The polymer of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is methyl.