Journal Article

FZJ-2018-07403

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Small angle neutron scattering study on the morphology of imidazolium-based grafted anion-conducting fuel cell membranes

Zhao, Y. (Corresponding author) ; Yoshimura, K. ; Yu, H.-C. ; Maekawa, Y. ; Hiroki, A. ; Kishiyama, Y. ; Shishitani, H. ; Yamaguchi, S. ; Tanaka, H. ; Koizumi, S. ; Appavou, M.-S.FZJ* ; Houston, J.FZJ* ; Radulescu, A.FZJ* ; Richter, D.FZJ*

2018
Elsevier Amsterdam

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.physb.2018.01.064

Abstract: Two imidazolium based graft-type of anion-conducting electrolyte membranes (AEMs) for fuel cells with a moderate ion exchange capacity of ∼1.0 mmol/g were successfully prepared by radiation-induced grafting to introduce imidazolium and styrene units into a poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) base film. Though imidazolium groups were desired to connect with styrene groups via two different ways, i.e. parallel or perpendicular orientations to the graft-polymer chains via copolymerization (AEM1) or homo-polymerization (AEM2), both AEMs possess high ion conductivity (>100 mS/cm at 60 °C) and modest stability. The morphologies of these membranes were elucidated by small-angle neutron scattering method. Our results revealed that 1) both AEMs show clear microphase separation with a length scale of 30–40 nm, and the semi-crystalline structural feature of the hydrophobic microdomains contributes to the membrane mechanical property; 2) at the length scale <6 nm, ionic structures of the two AEMs are different: Parallel type of AEM1 shows a homogeneous distribution of ions in the ion channel; while perpendicular type of AEM2 shows ionic clusters nanophase-separated from the graft polymers.

Keyword(s): Energy (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd) ; Materials Science (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)
2. Neutronenstreuung (Neutronenstreuung ; JCNS-1)
3. Streumethoden (JCNS-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G15 - FRM II / MLZ (POF3-6G15) (POF3-6G15)
2. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (POF3-623) (POF3-623)

Experiment(s):

1. KWS-2: Small angle scattering diffractometer (NL3ao)

Appears in the scientific report 2018

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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