La technologie supercondensateur a fait l'objet d'un grand intérêt ces dernières années. Cependant, tandis qu'une grande attention a été donnée aux électrodes, aux électrolytes et aux électrolytes de polymère gélifiée, peu d'études ont été centrées sur l'amélioration des séparateurs macroporeux. Dans le cadre du projet SEPBATT/DURAMAT, les séparateurs macroporeux à base de poly(fluorure de vinylidène) (PVdF) ont été préparés par inversion de phase, pour les supercondensateurs. Nos membranes présentent également une bonne stabilité thermique, en revanche leurs propriétés mécaniques sont significativement plus faibles que celles des membranes commerciales. De plus le séparateur PVdF de porosité 80% rempli par l'électrolyte à base d'AN atteint, à 25°C, 18mS/cm, tandis que dans les mêmes conditions mais avec le séparateur commercial en cellulose, la conductivité n'atteint que 10 mS/cm. Ce travail a été complété par l'étude de techniques de renforcement (addition de composites, réticulation par l'irradiation) appliquées aux membranes précédemment préparées, pour augmenter leur tenue mécanique. Ces membranes ont montré un renforcement des propriétés mécaniques sans nuire aux propriétés de conduction ionique (15 mS/cm). / Abstract In recent years a strong interest has been devoted to supercapacitor technology. However, while great attention has been paid to electrodes, electrolytes and gel polymer electrolytes, only few reports have been dedicated to macroporous separators. Hereby, in the frame of project SEPBATT/DURAMAT, macroporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) based separators were prepared by phase inversion technique for applications of supercapacitors. Their mechanical properties are relatively lower than those of commercial membranes nevertheless such membranes exhibit good thermal stability. Whereas commercial cellulose based separators filled with tetraethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate + CH3CN electrolyte show 10 mS/cm (at 25°C), our PVdF macroporous separators exhibit significantly higher conductivity (18 mS/cm) under the same conditions. This study was completed with application of reinforcement techniques (addition of composites, crosslinking by irradiation) on to previously prepared membranes in order to increase their mechanical strength. Reinforced membranes showed good high mechanical strength whereas the ionic conductivity is almost maintained (15mS/cm).

Thesis (M.Sc. (Chemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Calcium and magnesium are two dominant species that contribute to water hardness. The aim of this study was to develop a poly (vinylidene fluoride-co hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) composite membrane for treatment of water hardness. The synthesis of PVDF-HFP composite membranes was confirmed by X ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The concentrations of the hardness causing agents in both the simulated and real hard water samples were investigated in batch studies wherein parameters such as pH, contact time, temperature, and adsorbent were optimised. The maximum adsorption efficiency of 56 and 45 mg/g (evaluated by Langmuir isotherm) for Ca(II) and Mg(II) ions were obtained. These were achieved at an optimum pH of 7 and adsorption dosage of 0.5 mg/L using the 3% PVDF-HFP/cellulose acetate (CA) and 1% nitrogen doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (N-MWCNTs)/CA composite membranes respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm models were all consistent with the pseudo-second order and Freundlich isotherm models for all the membranes suggesting that the sorption process met heterogeneous adsorption. Furthermore, the thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption is physical and endothermic in nature. Reusability studies showed that all the PVDF-HFP based membranes can be recycled at least 3 times and for Ca(II) ions an adsorption loss of only 0.35 % was recorded while using a 3% PVDF-HFP/CA composite membrane. These results were further confirmed by XRD, TGA and inductively coupled plasma mass (ICP-MS) spectrometry. Thus, the findings from this study have shown that the PVDF-HFP based membranes could provide valuable material for hardness removal to acceptable level.

The present work was undertaken to develop a composite osmotic distillation (OD) membrane consisting of a thin hydrogel coating on a microporous hydrophobic substrate for the concentration of aqueous feeds containing surface-active agents. The range of OD applications using the hydrophobic membrane alone have been severely limited by the propensity for membrane wet-out when contacted by amphiphilic agents such as oils, fats and detergents. Wet-out allows the feed solution to track freely through the membrane pores with a resulting loss of solutes and a decrease in selectivity. The rationale for the approach taken was based on the hypothesis that the high water selectivity of the hydrophilic coating would maintain good water mass transfer to the underlying hydrophobic substrate but exclude other components including surface-active agents. The first stage of this work involved the identification of potential coating materials and the fabrication and structural characterization of films of these materials to determine their suitability. The second stage involved the development of techniques to facilitate adhesion of the hydrophilic coatings to the hydrophobic substrate, and the testing of the resulting composite membranes for OD performance and resistance to wet-out by surface-active agents. Sodium alginate was selected as the major coating component on the basis of its non-toxicity and its potential for stable hydrogel formation. Structural characterization of noncrosslinked films and films crosslinked using a water-soluble carbodiimide (WSC) was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and swelling measurements. Maximum crosslinking through esterification of hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups on adjacent polymer strands using the film immersion method was achieved with a non-solvent (ethanol) concentration of 60 vol % and a WSC concentration of 100 mM at pH 4. These conditions resulted in a hydrogel with an equilibrium water content of 60 wt %. DSC measurements of noncrosslinked and crosslinked alginate films showed an increase in crystallinity and hence rigidity on crosslinking. Therefore, several coatings were prepared as blends of sodium alginate and amorphous highly flexible carrageenan gum in order to meet the flexibility requirements of a membrane subjected to varying operating pressures in an industrial OD plant. Structural characterization with respect to polymer blend ratio was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), DSC, X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optimisation for crosslinking conditions was undertaken as for sodium alginate alone. Optimum conditions for film preparation were 20 wt % carrageenan content and a crosslinking medium containing 60 vol % non-solvent (ethanol) and 120 mM WSC at pH 4. These conditions produced a hydrogel with an equilibrium water content of 85 wt %. Two different techniques were employed to anchor the coatings on substrate PTFE membranes. For membranes with a nominal diameter of 0.2 µm, the technique involved surface tension adjustment of the coating solution by ethanol addition in order to enhance penetration of the coating solution meniscus into the substrate pores. This was followed by polymer precipitation by the selective removal of water using OD to provide structural interlocking. T-peel strength measurements showed that this technique resulted in a ten-fold increase in adhesion strength when compared with a coating cast without surface tension adjustments. For membranes with a nominal diameter of 0.1µm, an interfacial bonding agent, myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MTMA), was used. This technique gave a three-fold increase in adhesion strength relative to that of coating cast without the use of MTMA. The composite membranes were tested in extended OD trials using pure water and feeds containing limonene, the major surface-active components of orange oil. The sodium alginate-carrageenan blend membrane, which was the preferred membrane based on flexibility and water sorption considerations, was also tested against full-cream milk and an industrial detergent, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (DBS). The results indicated that the coatings offered little resistance to water transport and were effective in providing protection against membrane wet-out. Durability trials showed that the composite membranes retained their integrity in water for a minimum of 30 days. Overall, this study has expanded the potential applications of OD to include many important industrial concentration steps that are currently being undertaken by conventional processes with unsatisfactory results. These include the concentration of citrus juices, full-cream milk and nuclear power plant liquid waste. These feeds contain limonene, fats and detergents respectively, all of which wet out unprotected hydrophobic membranes.

Submitted by Lucienne Costa (lucienneferreira@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-10T16:47:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSEANE DAMASCENO MOTA - TESE (PPGEQ) 2017.pdf: 3916496 bytes, checksum: b5339c38dab725355adc81c735faac81 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-10T16:47:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSEANE DAMASCENO MOTA - TESE (PPGEQ) 2017.pdf: 3916496 bytes, checksum: b5339c38dab725355adc81c735faac81 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-05 / Capes / Neste trabalho foram produzidas membranas tubulares poliméricas (Polietileno de ultra alto peso molecular - PEUAPM) e compósitas (PEUAPM/argila Chocolate B organofílica e PEUAPM/zeólita Mordenita) por sinterização visando sua utilização e reutilização no processo de separação de emulsão óleo/água. O mesmo trata do efeito da incorporação de 1, 3 e 5% em massa de argila Chocolate B organofílica ou zeólita Mordenita e diferentes tempos de sinterização (60, 90 e 120 min) no desempenho de membranas a base de PEUAPM. O PEUAPM foi caracterizado por meio das técnicas de Difratometria de raios X (DRX), Análise Termogravimétrica (TG) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). A argila Chocolate B natural e organofílica foi caracterizada por meio das técnicas de DRX, Capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC) Espectroscopia de Infravermelho por Transformada de Fourrier (FTIR), Análise Termogravimétrica (TG), MEV e Espectroscopia de Fluorescência de raios X por Energia Dispersiva (FRX-ED), enquanto que a zeólita Mordenita foi caracterizada por DRX, FRX-ED e MEV. O DRX confirmou que o PEUAPM é um polímero semicristalino, assim como o MEV provou que este é composto basicamente por aglomerados de partículas com tamanhos diferentes. O TG evidenciou que as membranas poderão resistir a variações de temperaturas moderadas sem perder sua integridade estrutural. As técnicas de caracterização (DRX, FTIR, TG) evidenciaram a efetiva intercalação dos cátions quaternários de amônio nas camadas interlamelares da argila. A partir dos resultados obtidos para a síntese de zeólita mordenita confirmou que a sua obtenção foi efetiva com formação da zeólita mordenita em fase pura e cristalina. Foram realizados testes de resistência química, capacidade de absorção de água e porosidade, além de caracterização de DRX e MEV das membranas tubulares poliméricas e compósitas. Os resultados das membranas permitiram inferir que tanto a incorporação de argila Chocolate B quanto da zeólita Mordenita provocaram melhorias nas membranas compósitas, tendo em vista que pelo DRX houve a confirmação do processo de intercalação das cadeias poliméricas entre as camadas da argila Chocolate B organofílica. Quando comparado com os resultados das membranas poliméricas, percebeu-se que as membranas tubulares compósitas apresentaram melhor estabilidade e resistência química e física com testes de capacidade de absorção de água, resistência química e porosidade. Verificou-se que a incorporação da argila Chocolate B organofílica e da zeólita Mordenita ocasionaram o aumento dos fluxos como também um acréscimo no percentual de rejeição (até 90,67%) das membranas quando comparadas com as membranas tubulares poliméricas. O processo de limpeza das membranas reutilizadas provou-se eficiente, com obtenção de mais de 99% de seu fluxo recuperado, assim como mais de 95% de seu potencial de rejeição restaurado. Dessa maneira, as membranas compósitas configuram-se como materiais promissores no tratamento de efluentes oleosos. / In this work, polymeric tubular membranes (PEUAPM) and composites (PEUAPM/ organophilic Chocolate B and PEUAPM/zeolite Mordenite) were produced by sintering for their use and reuse in the oil/water emulsion separation process. The same deals with the effect of the incorporation of 1, 3 and 5% by mass of organophilic Chocolate B clay or Mordenite zeolite and different sintering times (60, 90 and 120 min) in the performance of PEUAPM based membranes. The PEUAPM was characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The natural and organophilic Chocolate B clay was characterized by the techniques of XRD, Cation Exchange (CTC), Infrared Spectroscopy by Fourrier Transform (FTIR), Thermogravimetric (TG), SEM and X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy by Energy Dispersive (FRX-ED), while the Mordenite zeolite was characterized by DRX, FRX-ED and MEV. The XRD confirmed that PEUAPM is a semi-crystalline polymer, as well as SEM has proved that it is basically composed of particle agglomerates of different sizes. TG evidenced that membranes will be able to withstand moderate temperature variations without losing their structural integrity. Characterization techniques (XRD, FTIR, TG) evidenced the effective intercalation of the quaternary ammonium cations in the interlamellar layers of the clay. From the results obtained for the synthesis of mordenite zeolite confirmed that its obtaining was effective with formation of pure and crystalline phase mordenite zeolite. Tests of chemical resistance, water absorption capacity and porosity were performed, as well as characterization of XRD and MEV of polymeric and composite tubular membranes. The results of the membranes allowed to infer that both the incorporation of Chocolate B clay and the Mordenite zeolite caused improvements in the composite membranes, considering that by the XRD there was confirmation of the intercalation process of the polymer chains between the layers of the organophilic Chocolate B clay. When compared to the results of the polymer membranes, it was observed that the composite tubular membranes presented better stability and chemical and physical resistance with tests of water absorption capacity, chemical resistance and porosity. The incorporation of the organophilic Chocolate B clay and the Mordenite zeolite resulted in an increase in the fluxes as well as an increase in the rejection percentage (up to 90.67%) of the membranes when compared to the polymeric tubular membranes. The process of cleaning the reused membranes has proved to be efficient, obtaining more than 99% of its recovered flux, as well as more than 95% of its restored rejection potential. In this way, the composite membranes are configured as promising materials in the treatment of oily effluents.

Submitted by Lucienne Costa (lucienneferreira@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-10T17:12:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ROCHELIA SILVA SOUZA CUNHA - TESE (PPGEQ) 2017.pdf: 3859616 bytes, checksum: 9dc6f57db82d6f9d21eed20973fe15ff (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-10T17:12:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROCHELIA SILVA SOUZA CUNHA - TESE (PPGEQ) 2017.pdf: 3859616 bytes, checksum: 9dc6f57db82d6f9d21eed20973fe15ff (MD5) / Capes / A separação emulsão óleo água utilizando membranas é um processo muito importante e muito utilizado, neste sentido a busca por novos materiais e novas técnicas para produção de membranas é fonte de interesse industrial. A inovação deste estudo se dá na síntese de membranas compósitas a base de polietileno de ultra-alta massa molar (PEUAPM) por sinterização e argila organofílica Brasgel e nanocompósito para separação de emulsão óleo/água. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivos: (i) preparar membranas poliméricas tubulares de polietileno de ultra-alta massa molar (PEUAPM) sob distintas condições experimentais e suas superfícies internas foram modificadas por impregnação com solução diluída de polietileno de alta densidade (PEAD) em tolueno; (ii) preparar membranas compósitas tubulares a base de PEUAPM adicionando argila Brasgel organofílica ou nanocompósito; (iii) investigar parâmetros de processo de síntese das membranas, tais como, tempo de sinterização e percentagem do material (argila organofílica ou nanocompósito) que irão influenciar no desempenho das membranas no processo; (iv) avaliar estas membranas no processo de emulsão óleo água. As técnicas de caracterização usadas para avaliar a organofilização da argila organofílica foram Difratometria de raios X (DRX), Espectroscopia e Fluorescência de raios X por energia dispersiva (FRX-ED), Adsorção física de Nitrogênio, Capacidade de Troca de Cátions (CTC), Espectroscopia de Infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR), Análise Térmica Diferencial e Termogravimétrica (ATD/TG) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Todas as membranas foram caracterizadas por DRX, MEV, capacidade de absorção de água, porosidade e resistência química. Todas as membranas foram avaliadas no processo de separação emulsão óleo/água. Os ensaios foram realizados nas condições de concentração inicial do óleo 100 mg.L-1, temperatura igual a 25ºC, pressão atmosférica, que possibilitou observar os fluxos (m3.m-2.h-1) e a percentagem de rejeição. A organofilização da argila Brasgel foi evidenciada por DRX, FTIR e ATD/TG. As membranas compósitas foram obtidas com sucesso a partir do polímero PEUAPM e argila organofílica Brasgel ou nanocompósito. Foi observado a partir de análises por DRX que as membranas compósitas apresentaram estruturas esfoliadas. A caracterização por MEV evidenciou que as superfícies das membranas foram modificadas com a deposição do filme de PEBD, conduzindo a redução no tamanho de poros. A partir de estudos realizados sobre o efeito dos parâmetros, tais como, tempo de sinterização (60, 90 e 120 minutos) e percentual do material (argila organofílica Brasgel ou nanocompósito) na síntese das membranas compósitas concluiu-se que esses dois fatores são importantes. Este fato foi evidenciado pelos testes de capacidade de absorção de água e testes de porosidade. Baseado nos resultados obtidos por processo de separação por membranas (PSM) da emulsão óleo/água, pode-se concluir que a inserção dos materiais (argila organofílica Brasgel ou nanocompósito) às membranas poliméricas melhoraram os seus desempenhos, consequentemente aumentando a percentagem de rejeição. Estes resultados corroboraram com os testes de absorção de água e porosidade das respectivas membranas. Como conclusão geral, as performances das membranas compósitas foram superiores aos resultados das membranas poliméricas evidenciando que a incorporação da argila organofílica ou do nanocompósito afeta positivamente. / The separation of emulsion oil water using membranes is a very important and very used process, in this sense the search for new materials and new techniques for the production of membranes is a source of industrial interest. The innovation of this study is the synthesis of composite membranes based on ultra-high molar mass polyethylene (UHMWPE) by sintering and organophilic Brasgel or nanocomposite for oil / water emulsion separation. The objective of this work is to: (i) prepare ultra-high molar mass polyethylene tubular polymer membranes (UHMWPE) under different experimental conditions and their internal surfaces were modified by impregnation with a solution of HDPE in toluene; (Ii) prepare PEUAPM-based tubular composite membranes by adding organophilic Brasgel or nanocomposite clay; (Iii) investigate process parameters for membrane synthesis, such as sintering time and percentage of material (organophilic clay or nanocomposite) that will influence the performance of the membranes in the process; (Iv) evaluate this membranes in the water-oil emulsion process. The characterization techniques used to evaluate the organophilic clay composition were X-ray diffraction (XRD), Spectroscopy and X-ray Fluorescence (FRX-ED), Physical Nitrogen Adsorption, Cation Exchange Capacity (CTC) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential and Thermogravimetric Thermal Analysis (ATD/TG) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). All membranes were characterized by DRX, MEV, water absorption capacity, porosity and chemical resistance. All membranes were evaluated in the oil/water emulsion separation process. The tests were carried out at the initial concentration of 100 mg.L-1 oil, temperature at 25ºC, atmospheric pressure, which allowed to observe the flows (m3.m-2.h-1) and the percentage of rejection. The organophilization of Brasgel clay was evidenced by XRD, FTIR and ATD/TG. Composite membranes were successfully obtained from the polymer PEUAPM and organophilic Brasgel or nanocomposite. It was observed from XRD analyzes that the composite membranes presented exfoliated structures. The characterization by SEM showed that the surfaces of the membranes were modified with the deposition of the LDPE film, leading to the reduction in pore size. Based on studies on the effect of the parameters, such as sintering time (60, 90 and 120 minutes) and percentage of the material (organophilic Brasgel or nanocomposite clay) in the synthesis of the composite membranes, it was concluded that these two factors are important This fact was evidenced by tests of water absorption capacity and porosity tests. Based on the results obtained by membrane separation process (PSM) of the oil/water emulsion, it can be concluded that the insertion of the materials (organophilic Brasgel or nanocomposite) to the polymer membranes improved their performances, consequently increasing the percentage of rejection. These results corroborate with the water absorption and porosity tests of the respective membranes. As a general conclusion, the performances of the composite membranes were superior to the results of the polymer membranes, evidencing that the incorporation of the organophilic clay or the nanocomposite affects positively.

La synthèse d'acide polyamique (APA) comportant des blocs élastomères de type oligo-oxyéthylène et -oxypropylène et des polyimides correspondants (PEI) a été étudiée et leurs propriétés de perméation gazeuse déterminées pour He, N2, O2, H2, CH4 et CO2. Il a été montré que la présence de la phase élastomère augmentait de façon très importante les coefficients de perméabilité au gaz comparativement aux polyimides aromatiques conventionnels. La perméabilité du CO2, augmentée de façon préférentielle par rapport celles de tous les autres gaz, conduit à des sélectivités idéales tout à fait remarquables, en particulier vis-à-vis de N2 (≈40). L’incorporation de nanoparticules de silice dans les PEI (de 1 à 15% en masse) a été effectuée lors de l’étape de cyclo-déshydratation de l'APA, soit par ajout de silice hydrophobes (16 nm) ou hydrophiles (12 nm), soit par méthode Sol-Gel à partir de précurseurs alcoxysilanes (TMOS et TEOS). L'influence des charges SiO2 sur les propriétés de perméation gazeuse a été étudiée par la méthode du temps de retard (time-lag) essentiellement sur la série préparée avec des particules préformées. On a observé que les nano-charges de silice ne semblent pas interférer dans le processus de cyclisation et que les propriétés mécaniques sont renforcées ; la perméabilité aux gaz varie surtout selon la quantité de charges incorporées mais aucune augmentation spectaculaire de perméabilité n’a pu être observée. On peut en déduire que, vraisemblablement, c’est la phase élastomère qui est le lieu d’incorporation des particules de SiO2. Ces résultats montrent l’intérêt des membranes PEI et PEI/SiO2 dans des applications industrielles de séparation de gaz, notamment pour la séparation de mélanges CO2/N2 / The synthesis of polyamic acids (PAA) with oligo-oxyethylene and -oxypropylene rubbery blocks and the related polyimides (PEI) has been studied and their gas permeation properties determined for He, N2, O2, H2, CH4 and CO2. It was shown that the rubbery phase dramatically increased the gas permeability coefficients compared to conventional aromatic polyimides. The permeability of CO2 is preferentially increased in comparison to all other gases, leading to remarkable ideal selectivities, especially for the N2 mixture (≈40). The incorporation of silica nanoparticles in PEI (from 1 to 15 wt%) was carried out during the cyclo-dehydration of the PAA by adding fumed hydrophobic (16 nm) or hydrophilic (12 nm) silica, or by Sol-Gel approach using alkoxysilane precursors (TMOS and TEOS). The effect of SiO2-fillers on the properties of gas permeation has been studied by the time-lag method mainly on the series prepared with fumed silica. It was observed that nano-particles of silica do not seem to disturb the PAA cyclization process and that the mechanical properties are improved; the gas permeability varies essentially depending on the amount of fillers incorporated but no spectacular increase in permeability could be shown due to the nano-particles amounts. Apparently, it can be deduced that it is the rubbery phase which accommodates the SiO2 particles. These results showed the value of PEI and PEI/SiO2 membranes in industrial applications of gas separation, especially for the separation of CO2/N2 mixtures

Ce travail décrit le développement de membranes réticulées et de membranes composites inorganique-organique basées sur des polymères perfluorosulfoniques (PFSA) à chaîne longue (LSC) et courte (SSC) et à faible masse équivalente, pour application dans une pile à combustible fonctionnant à moyenne température et à faible humidité relative. Des membranes (LSC-PFSA) réticulées par des groupements sulfonimide ont été préparées à partir de membranes fonctionnalisées par des groupements fluorure de sulfonyle. Les membranes réticulées de type SSC-PFSA ont été préparées à partir d'un polymère à chaînes 2-bromo-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroéthoxy pendantes et réticulables, par traitement thermique pour former des ponts perfluoro. Les membranes préparées ont été caractérisées par spectroscopies IR, Raman, RMN et XPS, par MEB-EDX et ATG. Les membranes de LSC-PFSA et SSC-PFSA réticulées présentent une stabilité dimensionnelle accrue et une meilleure performance en pile à combustible hydrogène-oxygène jusqu'à 110°C que celles des membranes de PFSA non modifiées. Une procédure d'échange ionique/précipitation a été utilisée pour la préparation de systèmes composites à partir de membranes de LSC-PFSA et SSC-PFSA. Plusieurs techniques ont été utilisées pour caractériser les matériaux préparés. Les membranes de type SSC-PFSA-ZrP présentent une morphologie distincte, et différente de celle des membranes LSC-PFSA-ZrP. En pile à combustible, ces membranes composites autorisent une température de fonctionnement plus élevée et une humidité relative plus faible, que les membranes non modifiées. / The objective of this research was to develop cross-linked and composite inorganic-organic membranes based on long and short side chain (LSC, SSC) perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers with low equivalent weight/high ion exchange capacity for operation at medium temperature and low relative humidity in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Covalently cross-linked LSC-PFSA membranes were prepared from sulfonyl fluoride form membranes by reaction with an ammonium base followed by thermal processing to give cross-linking through sulfonimide groups. Covalently cross-linked SSC-PFSA membranes were prepared by formation of perfluoro-cross-links under thermal treatment of solution cast polymers containing cross-linkable 2-bromo-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy side chains. Evidence for cross-linking was provided by IR, Raman, NMR and XPS spectroscopies, SEM-EDX, tensile testing and TGA. Cross-linked LSC and SSC-PFSA membranes have increased dimensional stability and improved performance in a single hydrogen-oxygen cell fuel up to 110°C compared with the corresponding non-cross-linked membranes. Composite PFSA-zirconium phosphate membranes, based on LSC and SSC PFSA (or cross-linked PFSA) membranes were prepared using an ion exchange/precipitation procedure. The physical properties of LSC-PFSA-ZrP and SSC-PFSA-ZrP have been compared and the morphology of the composite membranes shown to differ in SSC and LSC membranes. Composite membranes enabled fuel cell operation at higher temperature/lower RH than non-composite PFSA. Preliminary results indicated that association of cross-linking and composite membrane formation is a clear future perspective of this work.

Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist es, die Temperaturbeständigkeit von bikontinuierlichen Kompositmembranen bestehend aus Zeolith 4A und Visiomer HEMATMDI zu überprüfen und das Verhalten ihrer Permeanz im Verlauf der Temperaturerhöhung zu untersuchen. Weiterhin wird ihre Verwendbarkeit für technisch und industriell relevante Prozesse der Gastrocknung nachgewiesen. Zunächst wird thermogravimetrisch untersucht, bei welcher Temperatur Zersetzungserscheinungen an der polymeren Komponente auftreten. Anschließend wird thermogravimetrisch der Wassergehalt von Zeolith 4A im Bereich dieser Temperatur bestimmt. Hierauf folgen Permeationsmessungen mit Sauerstoff und Stickstoff an der bikontinuierlichen Kompositmembran. Die Temperatur wird hierbei schrittweise bis knapp unter die Zersetzungstemperatur des Polymers erhöht. Die Eignung der Membranen zur Gastrocknung wird exemplarisch an der Trocknung von Erdgas gezeigt. Es werden die Permeanzen für Wasserdampf und Methan als Hauptbestandteil von Erdgas mittels Einzelgasmessungen experimentell bestimmt. Aus diesen Permeanzen errechnet sich die ideale Selektivität der bikontinuierlichen Kompositmembran von Wasserdampf gegenüber Methan. Mit ihrer Hilfe lässt sich die Eignung der Membran zur Trocknung von Erdgas abschätzen. / The aim of this work is to study the temperature resistance of bicontinuous composite membranes, composed zeolite 4A and Visiomer HEMATMDI, and their permeances with rising temperatures. Furthermore their suitability for gas drying is investigated.

Switchable hydrogel-layered composite membranes can be used for the analysis of particle size distributions. This functionality is provided by pores with controllable diameter. In order to obtain a device that can be used to measure the cell size distribution in native biological samples, lots of switchable pores are required. In the current work, we model and simulate the mechanical behavior of active composite membranes with switchable pores. This is done in order to find the maximum number of pores that can be integrated into a membrane without cross-influencing effects on the actuation of the pores. Therefore, we investigate (1) the interaction of active pores inside the multifunctional composite and (2) the membrane bending under microfluidic pressure load. We show that through miniaturization, sufficient pores can be added to a permeation control membrane for processing native blood samples. The envisioned device allows a parallelized measurement of cell sizes in a simple lab-on-a-chip setup.

Switchable hydrogel-layered composite membranes can be used for the analysis of particle size distributions. This functionality is provided by pores with controllable diameter. In order to obtain a device that can be used to measure the cell size distribution in native biological samples, lots of switchable pores are required. In the current work, we model and simulate the mechanical behavior of active composite membranes with switchable pores. This is done in order to find the maximum number of pores that can be integrated into a membrane without cross-influencing effects on the actuation of the pores. Therefore, we investigate (1) the interaction of active pores inside the multifunctional composite and (2) the membrane bending under microfluidic pressure load. We show that through miniaturization, sufficient pores can be added to a permeation control membrane for processing native blood samples. The envisioned device allows a parallelized measurement of cell sizes in a simple lab-on-a-chip setup.