| Summary: | Proton exchange membrane (PEM) was prepared by radiation-induced grafting of 1-vinylimidazole (VIm) onto poly(vinylidene fluoride), (PVDF) film. The PVDF film was soaked with VIm mixture solution undergo mutual irradiated by γ-ray. The different concentrations of VIm from 0.5 to 3.0 M in 1,4-dioxane as solvent and ferrous sulfate as a initiator were prepared. The conductivity of the irradiated PEMs in humidity dependent was determined at different temperatures between 273 and 373 K. The results showed the proton conductivity of the membrane increased up to 10-3 S cm-1 at absorbed dose 60 kGy. Grafting yield, conductivity, spectroscopic, thermal analysis and surface morphology study manifested that VIm was successfully grafted onto the PVDF backbone. The finding showed that grafting yield increased in the PVDF membrane associated with absorbed dose. In fact, the surface morphology of the membrane observed homogenous when grafting with the VIm after irradiation that in compliment with XRD study. The PVDF-co-VIm membrane is expected to be a promising candidate for the PEM fuel cell. © 2012 by ESG.
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