Graphite Supported Silica Immobilized Phosphotungstic Acid Based Ion-Conducting Inorganic Membrane

Abstract

An asymmetric, inorganic ion-conducting membrane was synthesized by depositing a top layer containing silica-immobilized phosphotungstic acid (Si-PWA) over a graphite sheet. Surface morphology, thermal stability, and structure of the top layer of the membrane were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), respectively. The transport number and specific conductivity of the membrane were measured using membrane potential and impedance measurements, respectively. The composition of the top layer was varied by changing the molar ratio of PWA and tetraethoxy orthosilicate (TEOS) in the casting sol. The transport number and specific conductivity of the membrane increased on increasing PWA fraction in the casting solution. The highest transport number for sodium ion was 0.98 for PWA: TEOS molar ratio of 1.5. Specific conductivity of the membrane, with 0.5 PWA: TEOS, was 0.0082 S cm−1 which was lower compared to the membrane with 1.5 PWA: TEOS of specific conductivity 0.017 S cm−1. The specific conductivity of the membrane increased with increase in the temperature for both 0.5 and 1.5 molar ratio of PWA: TEOS with the calculated activation energy 18.9 and 8.8 kJ/mol, respectively.