INORGANIC-ORGANIC PROTON CONDUCTORS BASED ON ALKYLSULFONE FUNCTIONALITIES AND THEIR PATTERNING BY PHOTOINDUCED METHODS

An inorganic-organic proton conducting polymer electrolyte (ORMOCER+) is presented which may be used in batteries, electrochromic windows, d isplays and fuel cells. This new class of material, consisting of an i nterconnected network of inorganic oxide and organic components, prepa red by sol-gel processing is used to form coatings and membranes. Alky lsulfone alkoxysilanes were synthesised in order to provide the expect ed proton conductors. Cocondensation with reactive polymerisable alkox ysilanes results in oxidic oligomers which can be organically cross-li nked via uv-initiated and/or thermal polymerisation. The material exhi bits a proton conductivity of 10(-2) Omega(-1) cm(-1) at RT, a thermal stability of the amorphous network up to 180 degrees C, optical trans parency and chemical stability. The materials were patterned by laser writing and photolithography. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.