Abstract
Abstract Grafting of styrene on to Nafion membranes is carried out by impregnation and radical polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a solvent and swelling agent. Styrene monomer and the initiator 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) are first impregnated into Nafion membranes using scCO2 at 38 °C and 25 MPa. After releasing CO2, the polymerization is carried out at 80 °C and 10 MPa. The Nafion-grafted-polystyrene (N-g-ps) is sulfonated in concentrated sulfuric acid (98% H2SO4). The grafted membranes are characterized by measuring their ion-exchange capacities, ion conductivity and methanol permeation. The morphology and structure of these membranes are observed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The Nafion-grafted-polystyrene sulfonic acid (N-g-pssa) exhibits higher ion conductivity and lower methanol permeability than that of Nafion 115. The N-g-pssa membranes are tested as electrolytes in a direct methanol fuel cell.
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