Ordered Functionalized Silica Materials with High Proton Conductivity

A simple and fast method for the preparation of the Si-MCM-41 functionalized with sulfonic acid groups (SO 3 H) was developed. It is based on a co-condensation synthesis and microwave treatment, which ensures an effective removal of the template (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and the simultaneous oxidation of thiols to SO 3 H groups. The obtained hybrid materials exhibit a very high proton conductivity of up to 0.2 S/cm at 100% relative humidity, which increases continuously with the temperature. The coverage of the MCM-41 pore walls with the propyl chains bearing the SO 3 H groups is so high that more than one SO 3 H group is present per nm 2 of the inner surface.