We have synthesized and characterized a new family of proton conducting membranes based on cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, and functionalized silica filler. Glutaraldehyde, GLA, was used as the cross-linking agent in order to improve chemical and thermal stabilities. The functionalization of the silica particles is such that terminal -SO3H groups are formed during membrane preparation, thus possibly providing additional mobile protons. We find that the crystallinity of the PVA-based membranes is enhanced by the presence of the functionalized silica particles, whereas it is reduced by means of cross-linking. The thermal stability of the ternary system PVA:GLA:silica is improved due to the additive contribution of GLA and silica. The conductivity of membranes swelled in a sulfuric acid solution was found to be of the order of 10(-1) S cm(-1). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Structural analysis of PVA-based proton conducting membranes / A., Martinelli; A., Matic; P., Jacobsson; L., Borjesson; Navarra, MARIA ASSUNTA; A., Fernicola; Panero, Stefania; Scrosati, Bruno. - In: SOLID STATE IONICS. - ISSN 0167-2738. - 177:26-32 SPEC. ISS.(2006), pp. 2431-2435. (Intervento presentato al convegno 15th International Conference on Solid State Ionics tenutosi a Baden Baden, GERMANY nel 2005) [10.1016/j.ssi.2006.01.035].
Structural analysis of PVA-based proton conducting membranes
NAVARRA, MARIA ASSUNTA;PANERO, Stefania;SCROSATI, Bruno
2006
Abstract
We have synthesized and characterized a new family of proton conducting membranes based on cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, and functionalized silica filler. Glutaraldehyde, GLA, was used as the cross-linking agent in order to improve chemical and thermal stabilities. The functionalization of the silica particles is such that terminal -SO3H groups are formed during membrane preparation, thus possibly providing additional mobile protons. We find that the crystallinity of the PVA-based membranes is enhanced by the presence of the functionalized silica particles, whereas it is reduced by means of cross-linking. The thermal stability of the ternary system PVA:GLA:silica is improved due to the additive contribution of GLA and silica. The conductivity of membranes swelled in a sulfuric acid solution was found to be of the order of 10(-1) S cm(-1). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
