| Summary: | The partial scattering function (PSF) analysis through the contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering technique was used to determine the exact structure of the hydrated radiation-grafted protonexchange membranes, made of poly(styrene sulfonic acid)-grafted poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE-g-PSSA) with a high ion exchange capacity of 2.5 mmol/g. The membrane was treated as a threecomponent system composed of ETFE base polymer, PSSA graft polymer, and absorbed water. The analysis on PSF self-terms gave the exact structure of individual components and that on PSF cross-terms explored the correlation between two components to establish their locations. The characterization was performed in multiple length scales, and the mechanistic insights into membrane conductivity and structure correlations were provided.
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