Radiation Grafted Ion Conducting Membranes for Electrochemical Energy Systems: Status of Developmental and Upscaled Membranes

Abstract

Ion conducting membranes (ICMs) play a crucial role in the development of electrochemical energy systems supporting the conversion, storage, and management of renewable energy in various fields. Thus, this class of materials has received continuous intensive research efforts to obtain membranes/separators with superior properties, including high conductivity, durability, and cost-attractiveness. Radiation induced graft copolymerization (RIGC) techniques have been found to be most effective in developing a variety of IEMs due to their efficient endowment of the desired type and level of ionic functionality to preformed films to form hybrid materials with integrated physico-chemical properties. Various articles have reviewed the fundamental research aspects of radiation grafted ICMs’ and battery separators’ developments in many laboratories with little attention given to research activities at the developmental scale paving the way to commercialization of such materials. This article reviews the status of the development of emerging radiation grafted ICMs and separators for various types of fuel cells, batteries, and water electrolysers with a special focus on those undergoing developmental research activities and others successfully commercialized.