Polybenzimidazole-nanocomposite membranes: Enhanced proton conductivity with low content of amine-functionalized nanoparticles

In this work, a pyridine based polybenzimidazole (PPBI) is synthesized (I.V. 3.3 dL/g) from pyridine dicarboxylic acid and hydrochloride salt of diaminobenzidine. The polymer is characterized by FTIR and 13C CP-MAS NMR. The resultant PPBI possesses high storage modulus of >10 GPa, tensile modulus of ∼1 GPa and tensile strength of ∼150 MPa. Amine functionalized silica nanoparticles in different degrees of amine grafting (LAC-low amine content/HAC-high amine content) are successfully incorporated into PPBI to result nanocomposite membranes. Both the neat PPBI and nanocomposites exhibit significant affinity towards phosphoric acid as indicated by the high acid uptake in short time (5 h). Proton conductivity of nanocomposites is increased by the addition of LAC/HAC nanoparticles (>250 mS/cm at 140 °C). The HAC nanoparticle enriched nanocomposite (HAC 7) reveals self-assembly of amino-silica nanoparticles due to base-base repulsion (imidazole-amine). Hydrophobicity of nanocomposite membranes is increased with increase in LAC/HAC content which is attributed to the strengthening of hydrogen bonding between PPBI and nanoparticles. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of PPBI with high inherent viscosity is reported.•The PPBI-silica nanocomposites exhibit proton conductivity as high as 260 mS/cm.•They possess fast doping time of ∼5 h vis-a-vis 72-24 h of conventional PBIs.•Morphology of nanocomposites alters with content of surface amino groups.•PBI nanocomposites display enhanced hydrophobicity.