Development of cation exchange membranes for the improvement of the thermochemical hydrgogen production method

Kodaira, Takahide*; Ikeda, Ayumi*; Matsuyama, Emi*; Oura, Kotone*; Sawada, Shinichi; Yamaki, Tetsuya; Nomura, Mikihiro*

There has been a strong motivation to develop new cation exchange membranes suitable for the Bunsen reaction in the thermochemical water splitting IS process. We prepared cation exchange membranes by a radiation grafting polymerization method. The grafting reaction into a poly(ethylene--tetrafluoroethylene) film was performed in a mixture of styrene and divinylbenzene (DVB). The grafted membrane showed two times lower water permeation flux and three times higher activation energy of water diffusion than Nafion212 though both the membranes exhibited a similar water uptake. Therefore, the DVB-based crosslinking in the graft polymer would restrict water permeation through the membrane.