Infrared Investigation of the Silicon Oxide Phase in [Perfluoro-Carboxylate/Sulfonate (bilayer)]/[silicon oxide] Nanocomposite Membranes

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-1998

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

[Perfluoro-organic]/[silicon oxide] hybrids were formed by conducting sol-gel reactions of tetraethylorthosilicate within a perfluoro(carboxylate/sulfonate) bilayer membrane in the Co+2 form. FTIR and Si-29 solid-state NMR spectroscopies were used to probe general aspects of molecular structure within the silicon oxide phase as a function of its relative content. The internal gel structure is considerably unconnected in terms of the population of Si-O-Si groups in cyclic vs. linear substructures and degree of Si atom coordination about bonded SiO4 units. In situ (HO)(x)SiO2[1-1/4x] intrastructure become increasingly less connected and more strained with regard to bonding geometry with increasing percent silicon oxide. Structural differences are seen between the silicon oxide component incorporated in carboxylate and sulfonate layers. These inorganically modified perfluorinated ionomers have potential as fast-proton conducting membranes for fuel cells and as permselective membranes in liquid pervaporation cells. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics

Volume

36

Issue

4

First Page

595

Last Page

606

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