Sulfonated COF-based mixed matrix membranes with tailored porosity and surface chemistry for enhanced ion-sieving effect in polysulfide redox flow batteries
摘要
The fabrication of ion-conducting membranes with sub-nanometer channels has attracted considerable attention owing to their critical role in rechargeable redox flow batteries (RFBs). Herein, we report a sulfonated covalent organic framework (COF), Tp-Id-SO3Na, that features ordered sub-nanometer channels capable of effectively blocking polysulfides. Further incorporation of Tp-Id-SO3Na into a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) matrix yields a membrane with markedly enhanced ionic selectivity and conductivity. When used in a polysulfide/polyiodide redox flow battery, the Tp-Id-SO3Na-based membrane enables a high-power density (∼135 mW cm−2) and a long cycle durability over 470 cycles (1026 h), significantly outperforming commercial SPEEK and Nafion membranes. This work highlights the effectiveness of tailoring porous sub-nanometer COF-based materials to improve membrane ionic conductivity and selectivity, offering new opportunities for COF-based ion-sieving membranes in advanced energy storage systems.