Proton exchange membrane with chemically tolerant organically modified zirconia

Proton exchange membranes with chemically tolerant organically modified zirconia are prepared by inorganic-organic self-assemble sol-gel process. The monomers were covalently bonded at the zirconia interface to form macromolecular inorganic-organic networks. The modified inorganic-organic hybrid membranes showed high flexibility, chemical tolerance, mechanical property and thermal stability up to 325 °C. For the proton exchange membrane, the organically modified hybrids were put into the condition of room temperature or boiled in 85% H₃PO₄ at 150 °C. The proton conductivity of the ion exchange membranes was investigated.