(181t) Novel Polymer Nanocomposite Anion-Exchange Membranes Based on Ni2+–Modified g-Carbon Nitride

In this study, Ni²⁺–modified g-carbon nitride (Ni-gCN) was incorporated into a Poly(vinyl pyridine)-based diblock copolymer in order to create novel nanocomposite anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) with improved OH−conductivity and excellent chemical stability at temperatures ~ 80ºC. More specifically, Ni-gCN was synthesized via cationic complexation using aqueous solutions of nickel chloride, while the nanocomposite membranes were fabricated by a solvent-casting method using an automatic film coater to control the film thickness (~50µm). The effect of filler content on the properties of these nanocomposite membranes was assessed in order to determine the optimal composition. A wide variety of characterization techniques including FTIR, XRD, Raman, UV-vis, TGA, SEM, TEM and impedance spectroscopy were used to assess the material properties of Ni-gCN and the nanocomposite membranes.