Hybrid materials based on MF-4SC perfluorinated sulfo cation-exchange membranes and silica with proton-acceptor properties

Hybrid materials based on perfluorinated sulfo cation-exchange MF-4SC membranes with silica nanoparticles in the pores, whose surface is modified by hydrocarbon fragments containing amino groups [3-aminopropyl and 3-(2-imidazolin-1-yl)propyl] that impart it with proton-acceptor properties, were obtained. In has been shown that this modification results in a decrease in ion exchange capacity, water uptake and diffusion permeability of the membranes, whereas the ionic conductivity of the membranes with low content of modifying groups increases in comparison with the membrane that contains only SiO₂. The observed phenomenon, non-typical of ion-exchange materials, was explained using the model of the semielacticity of membrane pore walls.