Effect of Ta–TiO₂ Nanoparticles in Anion Exchange Membranes: Improved Hydroxide Ion Conductivity and Mechanical Strength for Alkaline Water Electrolysis Cells

Abstract

Abstract To improve the properties of quaternized QPAF‐4 copolymers as anion exchange membranes, compositing with hydrophilic Ta–TiO 2 particles are investigated. Flexible QPAF‐4/Ta–TiO 2 composite membranes are obtained using solution‐casting and die coating methods. Cross‐sectional scanning electron microscopy reveals that the die coating method produces a more homogenous and uniform distribution of Ta–TiO 2 particles in the composite membranes than the solution‐casting method. The Ta‐TiO 2 particles promotes the suppression of water absorbability and dimensional swelling of the composite membranes which is more pronounced in the die coated membranes. The Ta–TiO 2 increase hydroxide ion conductivity to 116.9 mS cm −1 at 80 °C for the die‐coated membrane, surpassing that of the pristine QPAF‐4 membrane (92 mS cm −1 ). Ta–TiO 2 with the composite membranes survive in 4 m KOH at 80 °C for 1000 h, maintaining 96–112 mS cm −1 (88–99% remaining) of initial conductivity. All composite membranes exhibit higher mechanical robustness (elongation of >200%), with the die‐coated composite membranes. The optimized die coated composite membrane is fabricated in an alkaline water electrolysis cell achieving 1.63 V at 1.0 A cm −2 (75.5% efficiency).