Composite blend polymer membranes with increased proton selectivity and lifetime for vanadium redox flow batteries

Composite membranes based on blends of sulfonated fluorinated poly(arylene ether) (SFPAE) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (P(VDF-co-HFP)) were prepared with varying P(VDF-co-HFP) content for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) applications. The properties of the SFPAE-P(VDF-co-HFP) blends were characterized by atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The water uptake, mechanical properties, thermal properties, proton conductivity, VO2+ permeability and VRFB cell performance of the composite membranes were investigated in detail and compared to the pristine SFPAE membrane. It was found that SFPAE had good compatibility with P(VDF-co-HFP) and the incorporation of P(VDF-co-HFP) increased the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and proton selectivity of the materials effectively. An SFPAE composite membrane with 10 wt.% P(VDF-co-HFP) exhibited a 44% increase in VRFB cell lifetime as compared to a cell with a pure SFPAE membrane. Therefore, the P(VDF-co-HFP) blending approach is a facile method for producing low-cost, high-performance VRFB membranes.

► Compatible blends of ionic polymer and reinforcing polymer are demonstrated.
► Proton selectivity and high conductivity improve cell efficiency.
► Composite VRFBs show longer-life device performance.
► Both chemical and mechanical degradation mitigated with new VRFB membrane design.