nanocomposite membranes

Previously obtained experimental data on protonic conductivity and permeability of polyvinyl alcohol based membranes modified using the protonated montmorillonite nanoparticles in either granulated or de-granulated condition are analyzed. Interpretation of the data in terms of charge carrier density using the Nernst–Einstein equation appears to be satisfactory only for membranes containing the isolated donor nanoparticles but rather unsatisfactory in the case of granulated donor.

Polyvinyl alcohol based, protonated montmorillonite nanoparticles or aggregates doped membranes were produced by slip casting from diluted aqueous solutions and alcohol/borate crosslinking. In both cases, permeability was as low as below 2 · 10−7 cm2 /s while protonic conductivity was about by order higher in membranes with aggregated particles than in ones containing isolated nanoparticles and approaches 5 mS/cm.