Journal
RSC ADVANCES
Volume 7, Issue 75, Pages 47726-47737Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/c7ra09650j
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Funding
- UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) [EP/M005933/1, EP/M014371/1, EP/M022749/1]
- University of Surrey
- EPSRC [EP/L02263X/1, EP/M014371/1, EP/M022749/1, EP/M005933/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/M022749/1, EP/L02263X/1, EP/M014371/1, EP/M005933/1] Funding Source: researchfish
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This study used Raman spectro-microscopy to investigate the synthesis and degradation of radiation-grafted anion-exchange membranes (RG-AEM) made using 50 mu m thick poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) films, vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) monomer, and 1-methylpyrrolidine (MPY) amination agent. The data obtained confirmed the operation of the grafting-front mechanism. VBC grafting times of 1 and 4 h led to low degrees of grafting homogeneity, while 72 h led to extreme levels of grafting that resulted in mechanically weak RG-AEMs due to the excessive H2O contents. A grafting time of 16 h was optimal yielding a RG-AEM with an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.06 +/- 0.02 mmol g(-1) (n = 3). An excess of grafting was detected at the surface of this RG-AEM (at least within the first few mu m of the surface). This RG-AEM was then degraded in O-2-purged aqueous KOH (1.0 mol dm(-3)) for 14 d at 80 degrees C. Degradation was detected throughout the RG-AEM cross-section, where the Raman data was quantitatively consistent with the loss of IEC. A slight excess of degradation was detected at the surface of the RG-AEM. Degradation involved the loss of whole benzyl-1-methypyrrolidinium grafted units as well as the direct attack on the pendent (cationic) pyrrolidinium groups by the hydroxide anions.
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