Novel UV-induced photografting process for preparing poly(tetrafluoroethylene)-based proton-conducting membranes

Asano, Masaharu; Chen, J.; Maekawa, Yasunari; Sakamura, Takahiro*; Kubota, Hitoshi*; Yoshida, Masaru

A novel process comprising UV-induced photografting of styrene into polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films and subsequent sulfonation has been developed for preparing proton-conducting membranes. The significance of this process is that the polystyrene can graft throughout the PTFE films. Even through the degree of grafting was lower than 10 %, the proton conductivity of the newly prepared membranes can reach a value similar to Nafion. In comparison with -ray radiation grafting, UV photografting is less damaging to the membranes because significant degradation of the PTFE main chains can be avoided.