biostudies-literatureLi JNational Natural Scientific Foundation of ChinaChina Postdoctoral Science FoundationNatural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province166https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9961908biostudies-literatureUnknown13(2)CO is a significant product of electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) which can be mixed with H₂ to synthesize numerous hydrocarbons. Membranes, as separators, can significantly influence the performance of ECR. Herein, a series of quaternized polybenzimidazole (QAPBI) anion exchange membranes with different quaternization degrees are prepared for application in ECR. Among all QAPBI membranes, the QAPBI-2 membrane exhibits optimized physico-chemical properties. In addition, the QAPBI-2 membrane shows higher a Faraday efficiency and CO partial current density compared with commercial Nafion 117 and FAA-3-PK-130 membranes, at -1.5 V (vs. RHE) in an H-type cell. Additionally, the QAPBI-2 membrane also has a higher Faraday efficiency and CO partial current density compared with Nafion 117 and FAA-3-PK-130 membranes, at -3.0 V in a membrane electrode assembly reactor. It is worth noting that the QAPBI-2 membrane also has excellent ECR stability, over 320 h in an H-type cell. This work illustrates a promising pathway to obtaining cost-effective membranes through a molecular structure regulation strategy for ECR application.MembranesElectrochemical Conversion of CO₂ to CO Utilizing Quaternized Polybenzimidazole Anion Exchange Membrane.PMC99619082020M6833072023NSFSC0303U20A20125, 22108230, 2187825022108230U20A2012521878250Li JCao ZZhang YZhang XZhang BDuan HfalseElectrochemical Conversion of CO₂ to CO Utilizing Quaternized Polybenzimidazole Anion Exchange Membrane.CO is a significant product of electrochemical CO₂ reduction (ECR) which can be mixed with H₂ to synthesize numerous hydrocarbons. Membranes, as separators, can significantly influence the performance of ECR. Herein, a series of quaternized polybenzimidazole (QAPBI) anion exchange membranes with different quaternization degrees are prepared for application in ECR. Among all QAPBI membranes, the QAPBI-2 membrane exhibits optimized physico-chemical properties. In addition, the QAPBI-2 membrane shows higher a Faraday efficiency and CO partial current density compared with commercial Nafion 117 and FAA-3-PK-130 membranes, at -1.5 V (vs. RHE) in an H-type cell. Additionally, the QAPBI-2 membrane also has a higher Faraday efficiency and CO partial current density compared with Nafion 117 and FAA-3-PK-130 membranes, at -3.0 V in a membrane electrode assembly reactor. It is worth noting that the QAPBI-2 membrane also has excellent ECR stability, over 320 h in an H-type cell. This work illustrates a promising pathway to obtaining cost-effective membranes through a molecular structure regulation strategy for ECR application.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-05-18T12:54:45.799Z2025-05-18T12:54:45.799ZS-EPMC99619083683766910.3390/membranes13020166