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Surface attachment of protonated polyimidazolium monolayer on titanate nanotubes as a novel proton conductor

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Abstract

A novel proton conductor has been designed by the surface immobilization of protonated polyimidazolium monolayer on titanate nanotubes (TiNTs) through a polymer brush strategy. 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN)-type initiators are first attached to TiNTs followed by a free radical polymerization of protonated 1-vinylimidazole (VyImBF4) on the surface. The chemical structure of the resulting poly(VyImBF4)-modified TiNTs is verified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TGA curve indicates their good thermal stability. The maximum proton conductivity achieves 6.74 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 200 °C under dry condition and 3.60 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 120 °C under 100% humidity, respectively, when the polymerization is carried out under a polymerization time of 3 h and an immobilized initiator concentration of approximately 42.4 mmol L−1. The proposed preparation of poly(VyImBF4)-modified TiNTs would give a new idea for the design of other ion conductors.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China [No. 21576216] and the Scientific Research Foundation of Guangxi University [No. XGZ170232].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Fangfang Zhang & Pengfei Fang

  2. College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China

    Wei Li

  3. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Xi Zheng & Haining Zhang

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  1. Fangfang Zhang
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  2. Wei Li
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  3. Xi Zheng
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  4. Pengfei Fang
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Correspondence to Wei Li or Pengfei Fang.

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Zhang, F., Li, W., Zheng, X. et al. Surface attachment of protonated polyimidazolium monolayer on titanate nanotubes as a novel proton conductor. J Mater Sci 53, 15784–15794 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2739-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2739-9

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