• Anion Exchange Membranes (AEMs)

Hydrogen is not present on Earth, and depending on the raw materials and the production path, hydrogen is classified as grey, blue and green. Green hydrogen corresponds to using a renewable raw material or a renewable energy source for the conversion of raw materials and the operation of the processing plant. Most green hydrogen production methods consider obtaining hydrogen through water electrolysis reactions. Three main types of water electrolysis technologies can be distinguished from the electrolyte used in the cell: a) alkaline electrolysis with liquid electrolyte (typically KOH), b) polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis, and c) high-temperature steam electrolysis with solid oxide electrolyte. This thesis aims to prepare AEMs starting from two different types of polyketones. Polyketones were functionalized with an amine bearing an imidazole ring that was then quaternized with an alkyl halide, thus providing chemically, thermally and mechanically resistant membranes with excellent performance in an alkaline cell. Chapter 1 of this thesis will present the general framework in which hydrogen research is obtained, with particular attention to the processes, currently known, for its production. The results obtained in the present thesis will then be collected and analyzed in Chapter 2. The different materials and methods of synthesis and characterization of AEM membranes will be covered in Chapter 3.