Effects of imidazole on the thermal and conductivity properties of hybrid membrane based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/SiO2

Abstract

New hybrid membranes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/SiO₂ incorporating imidazole were prepared via a sol–gel method. The structural, thermal properties and proton conductivities of the obtained membranes were studied by analytical methods. The influences of varying concentrations of imidazole on the conductivities of these membranes were determined by a two-probe conductivity measurement at room temperature. The largest proton conductivity of the PVA/imidazole/SiO₂ composites was found to be approximately 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at room temperature.