Hydrocarbon proton-conductive membranes prepared by radiation-grafting of styrenesulfonate onto aromatic polyamide films

Novel method for preparing aromatic hydrocarbon proton-conductive membranes without sulfonation and membrane casting process is achieved by radiation-grafting of sodium styrenesulfonate to an aromatic polyamide, poly(m-xylylene adipamide) (Nylon-MXD6) films and subsequent ion-exchange. The styrenesulfonate was easily grafted into the Nylon-MXD6 films from an oxygen-free dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution at 60 °C. As a result, the resulted styrenesulfonic acid-grafted Nylon-MXD6 films, namely proton-conductive membrane, with high ion-exchange capacity up to 1.63 mmol/g, can be obtained. The membrane was transparent and highly hydrophilic. The proton conductivity, water uptake and methanol permeability of the proton-conductive membranes were investigated with respect to their use in fuel cells. The high proton conductivity reached 0.083 S/cm, comparable to Nafion. Furthermore, the methanol permeability was significantly lower than that of the Nafion membrane. Therefore, the Nylon-MXD6-based proton-conductive membrane is a more promising material for the direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).