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Radiation-grafted alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AAEM) containing pendent groups with either benzyltrimethylammonium (BTM) or benzylmethylimidazolium (BMI) functionality were successfully synthesised from the same base membrane and with identical ion-exchange capacities. The conductivity of the new BMI-AAEM is comparable to the BTM-benchmark AAEM. The fuel cell performance obtained with the BMI-AAEM was, however, significantly poorer due to in situ AAEM degradation. FT-Raman spectroscopic studies on the stability of the two head-groups at 60°C in aqueous potassium hydroxide (1 mol dm ) indicates that the BMI-group is intrinsically less chemically stable in strongly alkaline conditions compared to the BTM-benchmark head-group. However, the stabilities of both head-groups are improved when treated at 60°C in lower pH aqueous carbonate and bicarbonate solutions (1 mol dm ). Contrary to a portion of the prior literature, there appears to be no real advantage in using anion-exchange polymer electrolytes containing pendent imidazolium groups in highly alkaline systems. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

A simple aqueous-processable alkaline ionomer (amenable to scaleup) has been developed for enhancing electrode/electrolyte interfaces in clean energy devices (e.g. alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells). The water uptake of the alkaline ionomer is tuneable allowing its use as a tool for fundamental studies into these interfaces.