Acrylamide-based crosslinking monomers, their preparation, and uses thereof

1. A crosslinked ion exchange membrane comprising a polymer, the polymer prepared by polymerizing a composition comprising:

an ionic monomer having an ionic group selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acid groups, sulfonate groups, and quaternary ammonium groups; and

an acrylamide-based crosslinking monomer having a chemical structure shown in Formula 1

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of isophorone groups, methylene dicyclohexyl groups, methylene diphenyl groups, and trimethylhexamethylene groups;

wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and

wherein the weight percentage of acrylamide-based crosslinking monomer in mixed monomers of the ionic monomer and the acrylamide-based crosslinking monomer is above 44%.

2. The crosslinked ion exchange membrane of claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange membrane is a cation exchange membrane.

3. The crosslinked ion exchange membrane of claim 2 , wherein the ionic monomer is selected from the group consisting of sodium 4-vinylbenzenesulfonate, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate potassium salt, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid salts.

4. The crosslinked ion exchange membrane of claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange membrane is an anion exchange membrane.

5. The crosslinked ion exchange membrane of claim 4 , wherein the ionic monomer is selected from the group consisting of 3-acrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride, 2-acryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride, 3-methacryloylaminopropyl trimethylammonium chloride, and vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride.

6. The crosslinked ion exchange membrane of claim 1 , wherein the acrylamide-based crosslinking monomer is produced by a process comprising:

preparing a first solution comprising: (i) one of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; (ii) a solvent selected from the group consisting of chloroform, dichloromethane, dimethylacetamide, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, N-methylpyrrolidone, and tetrahydrofuran; and (iii) a catalyst selected from the group consisting of organometallic compounds, metal salts, tertiary amines, and combinations thereof;

preparing a second solution by adding into and mixing with the first solution an isocyanate compound having at least two isocyanate groups, the isocyanate compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic isocyanates, cycloaliphatic isocyanates, oligomer isocyanates, and combinations thereof; and

mixing the second solution at a selected temperature for a period of time sufficient for formation of the acrylamide-based crosslinking monomer.