Physico-Chemical Properties of Highly Flexible Temperature Tolerant Anhydrous Nafion-1,2,3-Triazole Blend Membranes

Abstract

Temperature tolerant new anhydrous Nafion-1,2,3-triazole blend membranes were prepared by room temperature (RT) and autoclave (AC) solution processing. Both blend membranes were very flexible and stable up to . Interestingly, they showed very different physico-chemical properties. In this paper, the properties of both the blend membranes were compared by Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, dynamic elastic modulus, X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, and proton conductivity. 1,2,3-Triazole was successfully incorporated into the nanostructure of Nafion. The blend membranes were more conductive than Nafion at under anhydrous conditions, and the conductivity was about . The blend membrane using AC solution processing showed higher thermal stability, density, and conductivity than that of RT solution processing. Therefore, an AC solution processing can be expected as a new synthesis method to get electrolyte membranes.