Dual-fiber ion-exchange membranes

Abstract

Described herein are articles of manufacture comprising intertwined cation-conductive polymer fibers such as cross-linked sulfonated polystyrene (c-SPS) fibers and conductive nanoparticle-embedded hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer fibers such as PAN fibers in which the conductive nanoparticles are embedded within the hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer fibers. Also described are dense ion-exchange membranes formed from the articles of manufacture by hot-pressing the intertwined fibers to form a dense (i.e., substantially non-porous) membrane. The articles of manufacture are prepared by co-electrospinning cationic conductive polymer fibers such as SPS fibers and conductive nanoparticle-embedded hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer fibers such as PAN fibers from separate nozzles into the same collector, which substantially uniformly intertwines the fibers. The SPS fibers are then crosslinked with a suitable crosslinking agent, such as polyethylene oxide (PEO; also known as polyoxyethylene), poly(vinyl alcohol) or divinylbenzene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.