Preparation of fuel cell electrolytes by UV- and -induced grafting methods of styrene onto Xe ion irradiated poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene)

Kimura, Yosuke*; Yamamoto, Toshinori*; Kuroda, Shinichi*; Katakai, Ryoichi*; Kubota, Hitoshi*; Chen, J.; Asano, Masaharu; Maekawa, Yasunari; Yoshida, Masaru

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell membranes based on poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluororthylene) (iETFE) irradiated with Xe ions as a function of fluence were prepared by UV- and -grafting methods. In the case of -grafting method, both the degree of grafting and the ion exchange capacity showed a higher value compared with UV-grafting method. It was able to be presumed from the results of water uptake that the change in dimension of the membrane obtained by -grafting method is controlled compared with that of UV-grafting method.