Highly cross-linked polyether-based 1,2,3-triazolium ion conducting membranes with enhanced gas separation properties

Abstract A series of cross-linked polyether-based 1,2,3-triazolium ion conducting membranes are prepared via the combination of thermally promoted Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a dialkyne and a diazide poly(trimethylene ether glycol) monomers with in-situ N -alkylation of the resulting poly(1,2,3-triazole)s with varying contents of 1,10-diiododecane as cross-linking agent. The resulting free-standing membranes have T g s below −60 °C, T d s up to 230 °C, and Young’s modulus up to 4.2 MPa. The overall combined reaction kinetics were studied by DSC yielding an activation energy of 76 kJ/mol by the Kissinger method. These ion conducting membranes have conductivities up to 10 −6  S/cm at 30 °C under anhydrous conditions. They have potential to be used in CO 2 separation applications as they exhibit CO 2 permeability of 59–110 Barrer and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 25–48.