%0 Journal Article %T Preparation and Characterization of Heterogeneous PVC-Silica Proton Exchange Membrane %J Journal of Membrane Science and Research %I FIMTEC & MPRL %Z 2476-5406 %A Akli, K. %A Khoiruddin, K. %A Wenten, I.G. %D 2016 %\ 07/01/2016 %V 2 %N 3 %P 141-146 %! Preparation and Characterization of Heterogeneous PVC-Silica Proton Exchange Membrane %K Heterogeneous membrane %K Proton exchange membrane %K Nanosilica %K Cation exchange resin %R 10.22079/jmsr.2016.20312 %X Heterogeneous proton exchange membranes (PEM) are synthesized using the dry phase inversion technique. The casting solutions are prepared by dispersing a finely ground cation exchange resin particle in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solution of polyvinyl-chloride (PVC). Results show that ion exchange capacity is increased with the addition of 1 %-wt nanosilica (from 0.14 to 0.27 meq/g) while it is decreased with a higher concentration of silica. The incorporation of 0.5%-wt nanosilica improves water uptake (from 79.2% to 94.9%) and proton conductivity (from 0.02 to 0.09 mS/cm) of PEM. However, at further silica loading those properties are decreased. The membrane with 1%-wt nanosilica and 50%-wt resin showed very good stability in the oxidative environment. The post-treatment via membrane sulfonation at the optimum condition (0.1 M of sulfuric acid and 1 h reaction time) reduces the water uptake (from 94.8% to 92.3%) but improves the IEC (from 0.27 meq/g to 0.49 meg/g) and proton conductivity (from 0.02 mS/cm to 3.07 mS/cm). Meanwhile, the post-treatment via salt solution immersion at the optimum condition (0.1 M, 24 h and 30 oC) produces less water uptake (from 94.8% to 93.1%) but improves the IEC (from 0.27 meq/g to 0.55 meg/g) and drastically increases the proton conductivity (from 0.02 mS/cm to 2.79 mS/cm). %U https://www.msrjournal.com/article_20312_3d80f6f28397460c2791a94772a10660.pdf