Control of water uptake of polyphosphazene based fuel cell membranes by silicate inter-penetrating networks

A challenge in the development of polymeric proton conducting fuel cell membranes is control of water uptake by the membrane. The control of water uptake of polyphosphazine based fuel cell membranes by formation of inter-penetrating networks was examined. Silicate networks were formed via sol-gel condensation of a substituted orthosilicate in solutions of the polyphosphazene without covalent attachment to the polyphosphazene. Using this methodology, water uptake was greatly reduced. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 228th ACS National Meeting (Philadelphia, PA, 8/22-26/2004).