NOVEL NAFION(R) ORMOSIL HYBRIDS VIA IPL SITU SOL-GEL-REACTIONS .2. PROBE OF ORMOSIL PHASE NANOSTRUCTURE BY SI-29 SOLID-STATE NMR-SPECTROSCOPY/

[Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA)]/[Organically-Modified Silicon Oxide (O RMOSIL)] hybrids were formulated via sol-gel reactions of mixtures of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and diethoxydimethylsilane (DEDMS) in the nan ophase-separated morphology of a PFSA membrane (Nafion(R)). The molecu lar structures of the ORMOSIL phases were investigated by Si-29 solid state NMR spectroscopy and the spectra compared with those of correspo nding bulk ORMOSILs. PFSA-in situ ORMOSIL composition can be tailored by manipulating TEOS/DEDMS source solution composition and quantified by Si-29 solid state NMR spectroscopy. Copolymerization of TEOS and DE DMS monomers, rather than block formation, occurs within the PFSA as w ell as in the bulk. As DEDMS feed concentration increases, ORMOSIL nan ostructures are more hydrophobic and more flexible. Dimethylsiloxane r ings are dominant in PFSAs in which hydrolysis + condensation of pure DEDMS occurs.