(763e) Study On the Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles in the Transport Properties of Two Different Triblock Copolymer Membranes

Two block copolymers with two different elastomeric blocks (poly isobutylene and poly ethylene/butylene) were sulfonated as a means to create a mechanism for proton tansport. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were added to the materials in order to improve thermal, mechanical and water absorption properties. Materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy which confirmed the substitution of the sulfonic group in the para-position of the aromatic ring and the presence of the TiO₂ on the membranes. Thermogravimetric analyses were performed in order to determine the effect of the functionalization and the additives on the thermal stability of our materials. The incorporation of Titania nanoparticles had no effect on the degradation temperature of the polymer backbone, while sulfonation increased by approximately 20 degrees the degradation temperature. Other characterizations performed on the membranes were regarding transport properties. Methanol permeability results are similar to those of Nafion®, the state of the art proton exchange membrane; however, proton conductivities are lower than Nafion®. TiO₂ nanoparticles were functionalized to enhance their interactions with the polymers and to determine if the functionalization affects the physicochemical, thermal and transport properties.