Electrochemical oxygen pumps utilizing an anion conducting polymer

An electrochemical oxygen pumping system comprising:

• a) an electrochemical cell comprising:
• i) an anode on an anode side and having an anode film layer disposed thereon;
• ii) a cathode on a cathode side and having a cathode film layer disposed thereon;
• wherein both the anode film layer and the cathode film layer have the molecular structure MO2 where M is selected from the group consisting of:
• platinum, silver, iridium, ruthenium, nickel, and cobalt;
• iii) an anion conducting layer configured between said anode and said cathode and comprising an anion conducting polymer;
• wherein the anion conducting polymer has functional groups;
• wherein the functional groups include non-conjugated aliphatic amines;
• wherein the anion conducting layer has a thickness of no more than 30 microns and that passively transports water from the anode side to the cathode side;
• wherein the anion conducting layer comprises a support material;
• wherein the anion conducting polymer is imbibed into the support material;
• b) a power source coupled to the anode and cathode to provide an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode to initiate reaction of oxygen and water on the cathode to produce hydroxide that is transported across the anion conducting layer and reacted on the anode to produce oxygen and water, thereby pumping oxygen from the cathode side to the anode side.