| abstract |
A method of forming a hydrophilic polymer, comprising reacting a monomer, such as 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid (AMPSA), vinylsulphonic acid (VSA), styrenesulphonic acid (SSA), 2-sulphoethylmethacrylate (SOMA) or 3-sulphopropyl methacrylate, with Bronsted base, such methylimidazole, triethylamine, Tris (2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl) amine, 1-ethylimidazole or 1-butylimidazole, to form an ionic liquid. The ionic liquid is polymerised with at least one other monomer, such as a hydrophobic monomer selected from methyl methacrylate (MMA), acrylonitrile (AN), methacryloxypropylitris (trimethylsiloxy) silane (TRIS), 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TRIF) or styrene (STY), or a hydrophilic monomer selected from methacrylic acid (MA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), ethyl acrylate (EA), 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (VP), propenoic acid 2-methyl ester (PAM), monomethacryloyloxyethyl phthalate (EMP) or sulphatoethyl methacrylate (SEM). The ionic liquid is converted the back to the acid group after polymerisation, such as by ion-exchange using sulphuric acid. The hydrophilic polymer may be crosslinked with divinylbenzene (DVB). Also disclosed, is a membrane electrode assembly comprising the hydrophilic polymer and a fuel cell or an electrolyser comprising the membrane electrode assembly. |