Graft Copolymerization Of 1-Vinylimidazole Onto Poly(Vinylidene Flouride) By Radiation-Induced Grafting For Fuel Cells Membrane

Radiation-Induced grafting of high energy gamma-rays onto proton conducting polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs)-based poly(vinylidene flouride) (PVDF) immersed in 1-Vinylimidazole (VIm) solution have been studied. The different concentrations of Vim from 0.5 to 3.0 M in 1,4-dioxane were prepared. The samples were then exposed to gamma-rays from 20 to 100 kGy. The properties of the membranes were characterized based on degree of grafting, spectroscopic study, surface morphology, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. The degree of grafting (DoG) increased in the PVDF membrane associated with absorbed dose. The results showed that the surface morphology of the membrane observed homogenous when grafting with Vim the after irradiation that compliment with XRD study.