Influence of inert components on the formation of conducting channels in ion-exchange membranes

In this work, the results of investigation of the influence of inert binder and reinforcing fabric on structural organization and mechanism of current transfer in homogeneous and heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes are presented by theoretical analysis of parameters of the extended three-wire conductivity model. It was established that analogy in reorganization of the current paths takes place in the course of inclusion of the reinforcing fabric in perfluorinated membranes and addition of polyethylene and nylon 6 to ion-exchange resins during preparation of heterogeneous membranes. In comparison with perfluorinated membranes, the essential difference in conducting properties of heterogeneous membranes is the opportunity for the current transfer via the channel filled with equilibrium solution. The size of this channel decreases with increase in the volume fraction of the inert component inside the membrane.     

Diffusion of solutions in the course of the matrix synthesis of composite membranes MF-4SC—polyaniline and their transport properties

The dependence of the kinetics of diffusion transfer of solutions through MF-4SC and MC-40 ion-exchange membranes during the matrix synthesis of polyaniline on the composition of feed solutions and the nature of the initiating agents and the polymer matrix is studied. The effect of the conditions of the modification of the parent membrane on the resultant physicochemical characteristics is studied. The conditions of synthesis for the preparation of MF-4SC—polyaniline (emeraldine) composites with an optimized combination of conducting and diffusion characteristics are found. The contribution of electron conductivity to the overall proton-electron conductivity of the composite films is estimated.     

Synthesis of aromatic 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1, 3-dioxolanes substituted in position 2 and their salts

A method for the synthesis of 2-aryl-4,4,5,5-tetrainethyl-1,3-dioxolanium salts from cyclic acetals has been developed. The IR spectra of the compounds obtained are discussed.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 7, pp. 891–893, July, 1973.     

Electrotransport properties and morphology of MF-4SK membranes after surface modification with polyaniline

The method of template synthesis is used for the surface modification of MF-4SK membranes with polyaniline. The influence of the time of polyaniline synthesis in the surface layer of a perfluorinated MF-4SK membrane on its morphology and electrotransport properties is investigated. It is established that under the synthesis conditions, a gradient distribution of polyaniline develops across the thickness of the membrane, and as a result of this, an anisotropic composite structure is formed. It is shown that the specific electrical conductivity and the electroosmotic and diffusion permeability exhibit an extremal character as functions of the time of polyaniline synthesis. When the orientation of these composite membranes is changed with respect to electrolyte flow, an asymmetry effect in their diffusion characteristics is found. With the application of the bilayer fine porous membrane model, the modified-layer thickness is estimated, and the determining influence of the difference in absolute values of effective fixed-charge volume densities on the development of the asymmetry effect is found.     

Effect of counter- and co-ions on the structural transport parameters of sulfoacid cationite membranes

The diffusion permeability and specific electroconductivity of MK-40 sulfoacid cationite and Nafion 425 membranes are studied experimentally in NaOH, NaCl, and HCl solutions with various concentrations. The resulting concentration dependences of the electrodiffusion characteristics and data on the nonexchange sorption of the electrolytes are used to calculate the structural transport parameters of the membranes in terms of a two-phase conduction model. Analysis of a set of parameters, including the electroconductivity and diffusion permeability of the membrane gel phase, the volume fractions of the conductive phases, and a parameter that reflects their relative positions, the Donnan constant, and the diffusion coefficients of counter and co-ions in the membrane gel phase reveals the effect the nature of counter- and co-ions has on the electrodiffusion, structural, and sorption characteristics of sulfoacid cationite membranes with different types of structure.     

Morphology and Transport Properties of Hybrid Materials Based on Perfluorinated Membranes,Polyaniline, and Platinum

The transport properties and morphological characteristics of perfluorinated membranes after deposition of the layer of platinum dispersion on the surface are studied. The significant effect of preliminary modification of perfluorinated membraned with polyaniline on the diffusion permittivity of the composite and the morphology of the layer of platinum dispersion is determined. Testing the composites as proton conductors with a catalytic layer on the surface in an air–hydrogen fuel cell has shown the effect of the asymmetry of the electrochemical characteristics of the membrane–electrode assembly at various orientations of the layer of platinum dispersion towards hydrogen and air flows. A higher catalytic activity of the composite membranes in the oxygen reduction reaction is determined in the case platinum dispersion is deposited onto the membrane preliminarily modified with polyaniline.