Synthesis and characterization of composite membranes based on α-zirconium phosphate and silicotungstic acid

The functional proper-ties of the composite membrane generated from polyvinyl alcohol, zirconium phosphate and silicotungstic acid are described. The fabricated membranes were characterized by using FT-IR, XRD, TGA, DSC and SEM techniques. These fabricated membranes showed reduced methanol cross over (for possible application in DMFC) relative to that of Nation (R) 115. A maximum proton conductivity of 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 60% RH was attained with 30 wt% STA incorporated composite membrane. This is however lower than that observed for Nafion (R) 115 at 100% RH. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.