title: Facile large-scale fabrication of proton conducting channels.
abstract: A new approach to the facile large-scale fabrication of robust silicon membranes with artificial proton conducting channels is presented. Ordered two-dimensional macroporous silicon was rendered proton conducting by growing a thick uniform polyelectrolyte brush using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization throughout the porous matrix. The fabricated silicon-poly(sulfopropyl methacrylate) hybrid membranes were evaluated for their proton conductivity, ion exchange capacity, and water uptake. With proton conductivities in the range of 10(-2) S/cm, these proof-of-concept experiments highlight a promising alternative for producing tailorable proton conducting membranes. This approach constitutes a benchmark for the preparation and study of model systems and, in addition, for the large-scale fabrication of membranes suitable for a wide range of technological applications.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Basit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yameen
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaltbeitzel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gösele
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Azzaroni
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knoll