Evaluation of polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cell prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene onto alicyclic polybenzimidazole

Park, J.; Takayama, Toshio*; Kudo, Kazuaki*; Maekawa, Yasunari

PEMs for fuel cells prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of styrene onto APBI and subsequent sulfonation showed low mechanical property. PBI, exhibited no grafting reactivity, was employed as a blend polymer to APBI to increase mechanical property of PEMs. Polymer blend (1/1) film showed grafting reactivity as high as APBI even though it contained only 50% of APBI. This might be due to the enhanced graft polymerization of styrene on APBI which was promoted by the increased amorphous regions in the polymer blend film. Sulfonated polymer blend film showed similar proton conductivity with PEMs of APBI, while they showed lower water uptakes and higher mechanical property.