Design and synthesis of carbon-based aromatic cation for anion exchange membranes

Improving the alkaline stability is crucial for constantly enhancing the quality of anion exchange membrane materials. Introducing cations possessing high structural stability and reluctance to be attacked by nucleophiles, is one of the most direct methods to improve the alkaline stability of membranes. Considering cyclopropenyl cation represents the minimal Huckel system and features high lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy, weak ionic bonding energy and long cation-counterion distance, its introduction into the anion exchange membrane materials is likely to improve their alkaline stability. The resulting novel membrane materials exhibited excellent dimensional, thermal, and alkaline stability, exemplifying no sign of degradation even after 1000 hours of exposure to high alkaline conditions at 80 C-degrees.