Plasma-grafted anion-exchange membrane preparation and process analysis. (20th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Chengxu; Hu, Jue; Fan, Wenguang; Leung, Michael K.H.; Meng, Yuedong
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 204(2016)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2016-06-20
• Subjects: Anion exchange membrane -- Plasma-grafting -- Vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride -- Grafting efficiency -- Plasma bombardment efficiency; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.04.078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: A green and simplified plasma grafting approach was adopted for anion exchange membranes (AEMs) synthesis based on polyvinyl chloride powders in three steps: plasma bombardment, grafting and alkalization, avoiding the use of toxic chloromethyl ether and quaternization reagents. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses demonstrate the successful grafting of benzyltrimethylammonium groups into the polyvinyl chloride matrix. The plasma-grafted AEM exhibits satisfactory thermal stability, chemical stability and ionic conductivity, suggesting potential application in fuel cell. The plasma bombardment efficiency reaches up to 50% based on the FTIR and XPS results, meaning that one in every three syndiotactic CH2 –CHCl units is bombarded in the polyvinyl chloride matrix. But only a small part of plasma bombarded CH2 –CHCl units are grafted with (vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride (VBTAC) monomer, indicating that the grafting efficiency is the performance limiting factor in the plasma-grafted AEM synthesis. We anticipate this finding will provide guidance of plasma grafting technique for AEM preparations.