Abstract
Two kinds of novel hybrid membranes with and without (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (KH550) were produced using tetraethoxysilane dispersed in sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) matrix by the sol–gel method. The obtained hybrid membranes (SPAES-K-SiO2 and SPAES–SiO2) possessed higher water uptake, proton conductivities and selectivity compared with the pristine SPAES membrane when the SiO2 content was 3 and 6 wt%, whereas the same properties of the obtained hybrid membranes decreased when the SiO2 content was 10 wt%. In addition, the acid–base interactions between SPAES and SiO2 could improve the dispersion of the inorganic particles (SiO2) in the SPAES matrix. As a result, SPAES–K–SiO2 hybrid membranes presented better methanol permeability and selectivity than SPAES–SiO2 hybrid membranes without the acid–base interactions.
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