Small angle neutron scattering study on morphology and water distribution in block-copolymer electrolyte membranes

Zhao, Y.; Koizumi, Satoshi; Rikukawa, Masahiro*; Yoshida, Miru*

Hydrocarbonic block copolymer electrolyte membranes are highly considered to be protential material for fuel cell applications. In this study, small-angle neutron scattering method is employed to observe structures of the polymer membranes. We found two scattering maximums, corresponding to the microphase separation of hydrophilic domains from hydrophobic matrix, and the ion clusters. We introduced a random sphere model to analyze the scattering profiles and estimated the possible morphologies of the membranes, and the water distributions.