Imidazolium cation based anion-conducting electrolyte membranes prepared by radiation induced grafting for direct hydrazine hydrate fuel cells

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

Graft-type anion-conducting electrolyte membranes (AEMs) with imidazolium cations on graft polymers were synthesized through radiation-induced graft polymerization of -vinylimidazole (NVIm) on poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films, followed by -propylation and ion-exchange reactions. The -propylation proceeded quantitatively, whereas the ion-exchange reactions in 1 M KOH at 60C were accompanied by partial -elimination of the imidazolium cations(AEM2), which exhibited an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.85 mmol g and ionic conductivity of 10 mS cm. AEM2 showed alkaline stability at 60C but it gradually degraded at 80C for ca. 150 h. The copolymer-type AEM (AEM3) with an IEC of 1.20 mmol g was prepared through the copolymerization of NVIm with styrene on ETFE films, followed by the same -propylation and ion-exchange reactions. AEM3 was shown higher alkaline durability in 1 M KOH at 80C. As a result, it exhibited higher conductivity (10 mS cm) for 250 h. Therefore, alkylimidazolium cations in copolymer grafts are a promising anion conducting group for alkaline-durable AEMs. A maximum power density of 75 mW cm is obtained for AEM3 in a direct hydrazine hydrate fuel cell.