Covalent organic/inorganic hybrid proton-conductive membrane with semi-interpenetrating polymer network: Preparation and characterizations

A series of new covalent organic/inorganic hybrid proton-conductive membranes, each with a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN), for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications is prepared through the following sequence: (i) copolymerization of impregnated styrene (St), p-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) and divinylbenzene (DVB) within a supporting polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film; (ii) reaction of the chloromethyl group with 3-(methylamine)propyl-trimethoxysilane (MAPTMS); (ii) a sol–gel process under acidic conditions; (iv) a sulfonation reaction. The developed membranes are characterized in terms of Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflectance (FTIR/ATR), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDXA), elemental analysis (EA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which confirm the formation of the target membranes. The developed copolymer chains are interpenetrating with the PVC matrix to form the semi-IPN structure, and the inorganic silica is covalently bound to the copolymers. These features provide the membranes with high mechanical strength. The effect of silica content is investigated. As the silica content increases, proton conductivity and water content decrease, whereas oxidative stability is improved. In particular, methanol permeability and methanol uptake are reduced largely by the silica. The ratio of proton conductivity to methanol permeability for the hybrid membranes is higher than that of Nafion 117. All these properties make the hybrid membranes a potential candidate for DMFC applications.