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Structural analysis of PVA-based proton conducting membranes

2006; Elsevier BV; Volume: 177; Issue: 26-32 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.ssi.2006.01.035

1872-7689

Andrea Martinelli, Aleksandar Matic, Per Jacobsson, L. Börjesson, Maria Assunta Navarra, Alessandra Fernicola, S. Panero, Bruno Scrosati,

Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies

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.