Graft-type anion conducting membranes consisting of iminium cation for alkaline durable fuel cells

Maekawa, Yasunari; Yoshimura, Kimio; Koshikawa, Hiroshi; Yamaki, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Kazuya*; Shishitani, Hideyuki*; Asazawa, Koichiro*; Yamaguchi, Susumu*; Tanaka, Hirohisa*

Anion-exchange membranes (AEM) for hydrazine fuel cells, in which non precious metals are used as an electrode catalyst, have been developing by radiation techniques. AEMs having polyvinylimidazolium grafts were synthesized by radiation-induced graft polymerization of N-vinylimidazole or the copolymerizaiton with styrene onto ETFE film, followed by N-alkylation and ion exchange reactions. The alkaline durability of the membranes was evaluated in 1M KOH at 80 C. The AEM consisting of the homopolymer grafts showed alkaline stability at 80 C for ca. 150 hours. In contrast, the copolymer (1:1 molar ratio) grafts type AEM kept its ion conductivity above 10 mS/cm in 1M KOH at 80 C for 250 h. The alkylimidazolium group in the copolymer grafts is a promising anion exchange group in AEMs for highly alkaline durable fuel cells.