Novel hybrid acid–base membranes based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone), tetraethoxysilane and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane for fuel cell application. (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Jiannan; Zhang, Shuling; Wang, Qinhong; Geng, Zhi; Wang, Guibin
• Is Part Of: High performance polymers. Volume 25:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 188
• Page End: 197
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) -- proton exchange membrane -- SiO2 -- acid–base interaction; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1177/0954008312459866
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0083

Abstract

Two kinds of novel hybrid membranes with and without (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (KH550) were produced using tetraethoxysilane dispersed in sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) matrix by the sol–gel method. The obtained hybrid membranes (SPAES-K-SiO2 and SPAES–SiO2 ) possessed higher water uptake, proton conductivities and selectivity compared with the pristine SPAES membrane when the SiO2 content was 3 and 6 wt%, whereas the same properties of the obtained hybrid membranes decreased when the SiO2 content was 10 wt%. In addition, the acid–base interactions between SPAES and SiO2 could improve the dispersion of the inorganic particles (SiO2 ) in the SPAES matrix. As a result, SPAES–K–SiO2 hybrid membranes presented better methanol permeability and selectivity than SPAES–SiO2 hybrid membranes without the acid–base interactions.