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Multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized with an imidazolium-type ionic liquid polymer, PIL(BF 4 )-MWCNTs, have been successfully prepared via in situ free radical polymerization of 1-vinyl-3methylimidazolium iodide ([VMIm][I]) and then blended with poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) containing imidazolium groups (PPO-MIm) in solution to fabricate composite membranes. The composite membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the SEM images of the membranes show that the PIL(BF 4 )-MWCNTs can be homogeneously dispersed in the PPO-MIm matrix.The conductivity and mechanical properties of the composite membranes were examined. It was demonstrated that the incorporation of the PIL(BF 4 )-MWCNTs into the membranes of PPO-MIm can increase both conductivity and mechanical properties. The composite membrane containing 0.3 wt% of PIL(BF 4 )-MWCNTs (P(0.3)) exhibits a dramatic enhancement in ionic conductivity (95.3%) and tensile strength (82.9%) in comparison with the membrane without PIL(BF 4 )-MWCNTs. Therefore, this research demonstrates that the incorporation of functionalized carbon nanotubes is a facile and useful strategy for improving both ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of alkaline polymer electrolyte membranes.

A Y-shaped amphiphilic fluorinated monomer, 1-(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyloxy)-3-(3,6,9-trioxadecyloxy)-propan-2-yl acrylate has been synthesized and its polymerization by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) homopolymerization has been investigated. The results show that the molecular weights of the polymers are controlled and all the molecular weight distributions are lower than 1.4. Well-defined copolymers with 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate have been prepared by RAFT polymerization, and the surface properties of the block and random copolymers have been examined by contact angle measurement for water and hexadecane. It has been found that the surfaces of the block copolymers simultaneously exhibit excellent anti-fog and oil-repellent properties.

Living/controlled free radical copolymerization of chlorotrifluoroethene and butyl vinyl ether has been successfully achieved at room temperature under (60)Co γ-ray irradiation in the presence of S-benzyl O-ethyl dithiocarbonate. The alternating and block copolymers have been obtained with well-defined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions.

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