Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part B: Physics, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
In this study, an anion exchange membrane (AEM) was developed based on a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and varying amounts (0–20 wt%) of quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine) (QP4VP) for alkaline fuel cell applications. MCC enhanced water retention and structural stability, while QP4VP introduced fixed pyridinium cationic sites to facilitate hydroxide ion transport. The incorporation of long-chain dodecyl groups during quaternization modified the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of the membrane and influenced water organization within the crosslinked network. Systematic variation of QP4VP content revealed a structure–transport interplay in which increased charge-carrier density enhanced conductivity, whereas excessive hydrophobic modification restricted water uptake and disrupted ion-transport continuity. The optimized PMP15 membrane achieved an ionic conductivity of 38 mS cm−1 at 60 °C with controlled swelling and improved oxidative resistance. Activation energy analysis indicated that hydroxide transport is influenced by the combined effects of ionic group density and network architecture. Single-cell testing delivered a maximum power density of 70 mW cm−2 at 60 °C. These results highlight the importance of structural tuning in balancing transport efficiency and membrane stability in alkaline AEM systems.