Polybenzimidazole/ionic liquid functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite membrane for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) is a key component of alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells. In this work, polybenzimidazole (PBI)/ionic liquid functionalized graphene oxide (IL-GO) nanocomposite AEMs are successfully synthesized and characterized. IL-GO was prepared and applied as the additive for the PBI-based nanocomposite membranes. The resulting PBI/IL-GO nanocomposite AEMs show good thermal stability, excellent mechanical properties, high conductivity (above 10−2 S cm−1) and excellent alkaline stability. These properties make this type of AEMs suitable for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells.