Abstract
Hydrocarbon hybrid membranes of PEG/PMA/MPTMS/SiO2 and PEG/PMA/MPTMS/SiO2/GA were fabricated with various amounts of SiO2 and glutaraldehyde by sol–gel method. The composition of the hybrid membranes was examined by X-ray diffraction patterns, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra (FTIR-ATR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The surface morphology of the cast membranes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The conductivity values for all composites displayed a magnitude of 10−3 S cm−1, with greater improvements observed under conditions of various temperature and humidity. The proton conductivity of the composite membranes was measured at various temperatures at 50% RH using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In order to understand the proton conducting mechanism, the membranes were also subjected to conductivity measurement over wide RH range at 50 °C. It was observed that the hybrid membranes with glutaraldehyde additive as a crosslinking agent exhibited exceptionally high conductivity values at all RH conditions at 50 °C. The stable proton conductivity values at lower RH conditions indicate that the proton conduction mechanism is of diffusion type.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 10896-10906 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | International Journal of Hydrogen Energy |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 25 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 6 2016 |
Keywords
- Cross-linked composite membranes
- Proton conductivity
- Structural study
- Thermal study
- Water uptake
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Fuel Technology
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology