Effects of γ-ray and neutron irradiation on electrical characteristic of proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes

Radiation effects on proton-conducting polymer, perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes were studied as the absorbed dose dependence of the electrical characteristics. V–I characteristic was measured under irradiation of γ-rays and of 14 MeV neutrons. Under the neutron irradiation, the electrical conductivity of membranes decreased with an exponential form. In the case of the γ-ray irradiation, the electrical conductivity increased with increase of the dose and the membranes showed higher conductivity than before the irradiation, as much as 150 times after irradiation to a dose of more than 100 kGy. The effects on the electrical conductivity under irradiation is explained by structural changes in membranes caused by radiation effects as well as by changes at the interface between electrodes and membranes.