• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.524-533
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• 2021

In this study, a series of anion conductive organic/inorganic composite membranes with excellent ionic conductivity and chemical stability were prepared by introducing graphene oxide (GO) inorganic nanofiller into the quaternized poly(phenylen oxide (Q-PPO) polymer matrix. The fabricated organic/inorganic composite membranes showed higher ionic conductivity than the pristine membrane. In particular, Q-PPO/GO 0.7 showed the highest ionic conductivity value of 143.2 mS/cm at 90℃, which was 1.56 times higher than the pristine membrane Q-PPO (91.5 mS/cm). In addition, the organic/inorganic composite membrane showed superior dimensional stability and alkaline stability compared to the pristine membrane, and the physicochemical stability was improved as the content of inorganic fillers increased. Therefore, we suggest that the as-prepared organic/inorganic composite membranes are very promising materials for anion exchange membrane applications with high conductivity and alkaline stability.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

In this study, we synthesized a poly(pheneylene oxide) (PPO)-based organic/inorganic composite membrane having silicotungstic acid (STA) for the development of an anion exchange membrane with excellent ionic conductivity and physicochemical stability. The organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared by introducing different STA contents (0 wt%, 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt%) into the quaternizaed(Q)-PPO matrix. The prepared anion exchange membranes were subjected to structural analysis by proton neclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared, and thermal behavior of membranes was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. Among the prepared composite membranes, the ion conductivity of Q-PPO/STA-50 (40.5 mS cm^-1) showed 1.46 times compared to that of the pristine membrane (27.6 mS cm^-1). Therefore, these results demonstrated that organic/inorganic composite membranes are promising candidates for application of anion exchange membranes.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.155-170
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• 2012

Fuel cells have been considered as alternative power generation system in the twenty-first century because of eco-friendly system, high power density and efficiency compare with petroleum engine system. Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are the key components in fuel cell system. Currently, Nafion has been used in fuel cell system. However, Nafion has disadvantages such as low conductivity at high temperature and high cost. The researchers have focused to reach the high properties such as high proton conductivity, low permeability to fuel, good chemical/thermal stability, good mechanical properties and low manufacturing cost. Various methods have been developed for preparation of proton exchange membrane with high performance and commercialization of fuel cell system. The hybrid organic/inorganic membrane has the potentials to provide a unique combination of organic and inorganic properties with improved proton conductivity and mechanical property at high temperatures. So, this paper presents an overview of research trend for the composite membranes prepared by organic/inorganic system using various inorganic materials.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2008

Organic/inorganic composite electrolyte membranes were prepared for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)s with various molecular weight (400, 600, 1,500 and 3,400) was ethoxysilated to fabricate organic/inorganic composite materials through sol-gel processes. The electrolyte membranes were produced by doping the composite materials with NaI and $I_2$, and their ionic conducting behavior was investigated. The ionic conductivity of the composite electrolyte was highly affected by the PEG molecular weight, and the highest conductivity was shown by the composite membrane prepared with PEG with the molecular weight of 1,500. The composite electrolyte membranes showed considerable improvement of ionic conductivity. Compared to PEO electrolyte membranes, the composite electrolyte membrane prepared by PEG, MW 1,500, showed much higher ionic conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2008

The FAS(Fluoroalkylsilane)/Nafion inorganic-organic composite electrolyte membrane was successfully fabricated through sol-gel method. The FAS having hydrophobic functional group and silanol ligands is impregnated in $Nafion^{(R)}$ membrane to reduce methanol crossover. The prepared FAS/Nafion inorganic-organic composite electrolyte membrane consist of the hydrophobic FAS-derived silicate nano-particles and $Nafion^{(R)}$ matrix showed decrease of methanol crossover and reduction of humidity dependence without large sacrifice of proton conductivity. The microstructural analysis of the composite membranes was performed using FESEM and FTIR. And the effect of the incorporation of the hydrophobic FAS-derived silicate nano-particles into $Nafion^{(R)}$ membrane was investigated via solvent uptake, membrane expansion rate, humidity dependency of proton conductivity and contact angle measurement.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

A series of QPAE/TiO₂-x (x = 1, 4, 7 and 10 wt%) organic/inorganic composite membranes were prepared as electrolyte membranes for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells by controlling the content of inorganic filler with quaternized poly(arylene ether) (QPAE) random copolymer. Among the prepared QPAE/TiO₂-x organic/inorganic composite membranes, the highest ionic conductivity was 26.6 mS cm^-1 at 30℃ in QPAE/TiO₂-7 composite membrane, which was improvement over the ionic conductivity value of 6.4 mS cm^-1 (at 30℃) of the pristine QPAE membrane. Furthermore, the water uptake, swelling ratio, ionic exchange capacity, and thermal property of QPAE/TiO₂-x composite membranes were improved compared to the pristine QPAE membrane. The results of these studies suggest that the fabricated QPAE/TiO₂-x composite membranes have good prospects for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cell applications.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.169-171
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• 2003

Organic/inorganic hybrid membranes have been prepared and evaluated as polymer electrolytes in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Previously, partially fluorinated poly (arylenether) was synthesized and the polymer was sulfonated by fuming sulfuric acid$(30\%\;SO_3)$. Modification of these polymers with coupling agent and inorganic materials was carried out to prepare membranes. Membranes cast from these materials were investigated in relation to the proton conductivity and weight loss at the room temperature. It was found that these membranes had a higher conductivity of $10^{-2}\;Scm^{-1}$ at the room temperature. But inorganic materials have leaked out from the hybrid membrane. If this problem is resolved, organic/inorganic hybrid membranes will become satisfactory Polymer electrolytes for the PEMFC.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.37-40
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• 2003

Mesoporous zeolite - heteropolyacid-polymer hybrid membrane was prepared by sol-gel processes to make a proton conducting membrane. The crystallinity of mesoporous zeolite in composite membrane was increased with contents of heteropolyacid. Proton conductivity obtained from impedance measurements increases with contents of heteropolyacid, about 10$^{-3}$ S/cm in ca. 1.5 Wt% heteropolyacid.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.87-90
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• 2005

This paper presents an evaluation of the effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with sulfonation degree of 57%. A series of inorganic-organic hybrid membranes were prepared with a systematic variation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles content. Their water uptake, methanol permeability and proton conductivity as a function of temperature were investigated. The results obtained show that the inorganic oxide network decreases the proton conductivity and water swelling. It is also found that increase in inorganic oxide content leads to decrease of methanol permeability. In terms of morphology, membranes are homogeneous and exhibit a good adhesion between inorganic domains and the polymer matrix. The properties of the composite membranes are compared with standard nafion membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

Organic/inorganic composite electrolyte membranes were prepared for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)s with various molecular weight (600, 1,500, 2,000 and 3,400) were ethoxysilated to fabricate organic/inorganic composite materials through sol-gel processes. The electrolyte membranes were produced by doping the composite materials with KI and $I_2$, and their ionic conducting behaviors were investigated. The ionic conductivity of the composite membrane was highly affected by PEG molecular weight. The highest conductivity was shown by the composite membrane prepared with PEG with the molecular weight of 2,000. The composite electrolyte membranes showed considerable improvement of ionic conductivity. Compared to PEO electrolyte membranes, the composite electrolyte membrane by PEG, MW 2,000 showed much higher ionic conductivity.