Current Challenges on the Alkaline Stability of Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells

Abstract

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs), which consist of positively charged groups, not only allow the directional transport of OH− but can also separate anode and cathode reactions. Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in the preparation of high-performance polymer electrolyte membranes with high conductivity, good mechanical properties, and satisfactory dimensional stability. However, the wide application of AEMs remains limited by various factors, especially alkaline stability, thereby hindering the development of fuel cells. This minireview provides an overview of recent strategies for improving the alkaline stability of AEMs. The influence of various polymer molecular structures on alkaline stability is discussed in detail. These insights into key factors affecting alkaline stability can act as guidelines for the design of novel AEMs with enhanced performance.