Versatile synthetic route to tailor-made proton exchange membranes for fuel cell applications by combination of radiation chemistry of polymers with nitroxide-mediated living free radical graft polymerization

A versatile method was used for the preparation of proton exchange membranes (PEM) by the combination of radiation chemistry of polymers with nitroxide-mediated living free radical graft polymerization with subsequent sulfonation. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes were first irradiated with electron beam and then the free radicals formed were quenched with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO). The introduction of the N-phenyl maleimide moieties into the grafted chains significantly increased the thermo-oxidative stability of the proton exchange membranes (PEM) as determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that the PVDF membrane that had been grafted with styrene can be used in a fuel cell applications.