Ionic membrane preparation

Abstract

In a first aspect, a method for forming a ionic polymer membrane, comprises: (i) polymerising a mixture of one or more first monomers to form an ionic polymer membrane; (ii) soaking the polymer membrane of (i) into a mixture of one or more second monomers, for a sufficient length of time to allow the solution to penetrate through the entire polymer membrane; and (iii) polymerising the monomer-coated polymer of step (ii) to form an essentially homogenous ionic polymer. In a second aspect, a method for forming a catalyst-coated ionic polymer membrane, comprises: (i) polymerising a mixture of one or more first monomers to form an ionic polymer membrane; (ii) dipping the polymer of (i) into a mixture of one or more second monomers; (iia) depositing a catalyst onto the monomer-coated polymer; (iii) polymerising the monomer-coated polymer of step (iia). The present invention also includes membranes formed using these methods.

1 . A method for forming an ionic polymer membrane, comprising:
 (i) polymerising a mixture of one or more first monomers to form an ionic polymer membrane;   (ii) soaking the polymer membrane of (i) in a mixture of one or more second monomers, for a sufficient length of time to allow the solution to penetrate through the entire polymer membrane; and   (iii) polymerising the monomer-coated polymer of step (ii) to form an essentially homogenous ionic polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer membrane formed by step (i) is hydrophilic. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sufficient length of time is at least 3 hours. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer membrane is hydrated in water in between steps (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that is formed after step (iii) is hydrated in water (step (iv)). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solution of one or more second monomers comprises an ionic component. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of one or more first monomers has the same composition as the mixture of one or more second monomers. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of one or more first monomers and/or the mixture of one or more second monomers comprises a homogenous mixture of the monomers with water. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the mixture of one or more first monomers and/or the mixture of one or more second monomers comprises a homogenous mixture of a hydrophilic monomer, water, a hydrophobic monomer and a monomer including a strongly ionic group.