Proton-conducting membranes based on multicomponent copolymers

Preparation of proton-conducting polymeric composites via copolymerization of multicomponent monomeric systems using the interpenetrating polymer network preparation procedure is studied. The products are characterized by the protonic conductivity, water-retaining capacity, and mechanical properties. The approach used allows fabrication of membranes with a reasonable protonic conductivity over the temperature range 20–90°C. A possibility of modification of the proton-conducting materials with small additions of hydrolyzable organosilicon comonomers is analyzed. The structure of the resulting systems is examined by small-angle neutron scattering.