Novel anion-exchange organic–inorganic hybrid membranes prepared through sol–gel reaction of multi-alkoxy precursors

• Published in: Journal of membrane science Vol. 329; no. 1; pp. 236 - 245
• Main Authors: Wu, Yonghui, Wu, Cuiming, Xu, Tongwen, Fu, Yanxun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.03.2009
• Subjects: Anion-exchange membranes; Glycidylmethacrylate (GMA); Hybrid membranes; Sol–gel; γ-Methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (γ-MPS); Hybrid membranes; Anion-exchange membranes; Sol–gel; Glycidylmethacrylate (GMA); γ-Methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (γ-MPS)
• ISSN: 0376-7388; 1873-3123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2008.12.056

A series of anion-exchange organic–inorganic hybrid membranes were prepared through sol–gel process from different precursors such as the copolymer of glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) and γ-methacryloxypropy trimethoxy silane (γ-MPS) (multi-silicon), N-triethoxysilylpropyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium iodine (A-1100(+), mono-silicon) and monophenyltriethoxysilane (EPh) (mono-silicon). Influence of the copolymer's molecular weight on the sol–gel process and membrane formation is primarily investigated. It is demonstrated that copolymer with lower molecular weight (number average molecular weight, M n, 8248) is more desirable to obtain homogenous and flexible hybrid membranes. Results also show that increasing the content of A-1100(+) could increase the membrane water uptake ( W R), ion exchange capacity (IEC) and membrane potential ( E m), while decrease in EPh content can result in an increase in W R, E m, and elongation at break ( E b). Generally speaking, the membranes have relatively strong hydrophobicity and high mechanical strength. The tensile strength (TS) can reach up to 88 MPa, and the E b is in the range of 34–41%. Morphology studies show all the hybrid membranes are compact and homogenous even though they have high silica content (27.0–29.8%).