Preparation of electrolyte membranes by radiation-induced graft polymerization and atom-transfer radical polymerization methods

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25810130
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Polymer/Textile materials
• Research Institution: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
• Principal Investigator: SAWADA SHINICHI 国立研究開発法人日本原子力研究開発機構, 原子力科学研究部門 量子ビーム応用研究センター, 研究員 (70414571)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 燃料電池 / 高分子電解質膜 / 放射線グラフト重合 / 原子移動ラジカル重合 / プロトン伝導度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We prepared novel proton exchange membranes (PEMs) by the radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP) of styrene and chloromethylstyrene (CMS) into poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films, and the atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of ethyl styrene sulfonate (EtSS) starting from the CMS units, followed by hydrolysis to convert poly(EtSS) to poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA). The ATRP of EtSS was successfully performed by controlling the catalyst concentration at the relatively-low temperature. The grafting degree during the ATRP could be controlled and ranged from 24% to 240%, resulting in the preparation of PEMs with ion exchange capacities ranging from 0.96 to 2.9 mmol/g. The block-type PEMs exhibited higher proton conductivities and water contents than those of the conventional RIGP-PEMs. In the block-type PEMs, the PSSA graft chains would easily aggregate to create a well-connected ion-channel network, resulting in enhancing the proton conduction.

Free Research Field

高分子物性、電気化学