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Grafting of nitrogen containing monomers onto poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) films by bulk polymerization for proton exchange membranes

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Abstract

Bulk polymerization is suggested as an alternative to solution polymerization to graft N-containing monomers onto poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) films to produce highly conductive membranes. Among the tested monomers, 4-vinyl pyridine was found as the most reactive monomer giving grafting levels (%GL) >120 % compared with %GL <45 % previously reported under similar conditions. Doping grafted films with H3PO4 converted them to membranes with enhanced water swellability but their conductivity values were at the same order of magnitude of membranes prepared by solution polymerization. These results demonstrate the importance of having both high grafting levels and homogeneous distribution of grafting throughout the base polymer.

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Acknowledgments

The author made this study as he got a post-doctoral position at Sabancı University/Turkey. He thanks Sabancı University for hosting his visit and for all the support and assistance afforded to him. The author would like to express his sincere appreciation to Hebron University for approving his Sabbatical Leave and to Erasmus Mundus program for their generous financial support. Appreciation and thanks are extended to Dr. Selmiye Gürsel, Sinem Taş, Cem Kılıç, Dr. Salman Talahmeh and to all friends at Sabancı University and Hebron University. The author would like to thank Ms. Emma DiNapoli who assisted in the proof-reading of the manuscript and to Hayyan Qawasmeh for his encouragement and endless help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, 34956, Istanbul, Turkey

    Fahed Takrori

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hebron University, P. O. Box 40, Hebron, West Bank, Palestine

    Fahed Takrori

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  1. Fahed Takrori
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Correspondence to Fahed Takrori.

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Takrori, F. Grafting of nitrogen containing monomers onto poly(ethylene-alt-tetrafluoroethylene) films by bulk polymerization for proton exchange membranes. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 308, 1089–1094 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4590-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4590-7

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