Abstract
A new type of a cation exchange membrane named ETFE-g-poly(AA-co-SSS) with bifunctional groups was synthesized by a one-step method. Its preparation by an electron beam-induced pre-irradiation grafting method and the effects of reaction temperature, monomer concentration, pH value of the grafting solution, storage time and temperature of the irradiated poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films on the grafting yield were studied. A total concentration of 2 mol L−1 of monomers was found to be beneficial for acrylic acid (AA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) co-grafting onto the ETFE films. Infrared spectroscopic analysis of the grafted membrane confirmed the existence of sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups. The contact angle of the grafted membrane decreased from 94.3 to 46.7° with the increase in grafting yield. The higher the grafting yield, the faster the response and recovery rate with respect to humidity. AFM images showed that the diameter of the grafted chains on the surface of ETFE membranes was about 30 nm. The voltage of the grafted membrane was stable after 100 cycles of charge–discharge; thus, the prepared membranes have great potentials to be used as separators in secondary batteries.
Highlights
Traditional cation exchange membranes are mostly prepared by physical blending or chemical copolymerization
We have reported that the addition of acid plays a signi cant role in radiation-induced gra ing of vinyl monomers such as sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) and acrylic acid (AA) onto polyethylene.[10]
We carried out gra ing of AA and SSS comonomers onto high density polyethylene (HDPE) by the pre-irradiation technique, and we studied the effects of various reaction parameters on the degree of gra ing.[14,15]
Summary
Traditional cation exchange membranes are mostly prepared by physical blending or chemical copolymerization. Monomer or monomer mixtures with functional groups are gra ed onto ready-made lms so that the lm shaping process can be excluded as the preparation begins with a polymer already in the lm form.[3] All membranes synthesized by the radiation-induced gra ing technique have special advantages over other membranes prepared by blending or polymerization modi cation. Membranes prepared by this technique have wide applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells,[4] secondary batteries,[5,6] and treatment of wastewater.[7]. The introduction of both –COOH and –SO3H groups onto ETFE lms further improved the swelling property and sensitivity to humidity of the gra ed membranes
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