Polymer supported metal catalysts polybenzimidazole

Polystyrene-based resins have been used widely as supports for metal complex catalysts and other reactive species. These polymers, however, have a drawback in their limited thermo-oxidative stability [1,2]. The scope for application is therefore restricted, particularly in polymer-supported transition metal complex oxidation catalysts [3]. Consequently there is a need for the development of polymer supports with a much higher intrinsic thermo-oxidative stability. Polybenzimidazoles and polyimides are likely candidates in this respect. 

Besides pyridine-containing polystyrene and pol)q5ropylene resins, polybenzimidazole has been employed as support for nickel(II) acetylacetonate [94]. The nickel-loaded polymer was shown to be an efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of (S)-(—)-limonene, a-pinene, and 1-octene using isobutyraldehyde/02 as coreac-tant/oxidant. However, significant metal leaching from the support associated with a loss of activity upon recycling was reported. It was shown that the reaction is heterogeneously catalyzed, and leached metal species did not contribute to the catal)d ic activity. 

Trogadas and Ramani summarized the modification of PEM membranes, including Nafion modified by zirconium phosphates, heteropolyacids, hydrogen sulfates, metal oxides, and silica. Membranes with sulfonated non-fluorinated backbones were also described. The base polymers polysulfone, poly(ether sulfone), poly(ether ether ketone), polybenzimidazole, and polyimide. Another interesting category is acid-base polymer blend membranes. This review also paid special attention to electrode designs based on catalyst particles bound by a hydrophobic poly-tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) structure or hydrophilic Nafion, vacuum deposition, and electrodeposition method. Issues related to the MEA were presented. In then-study on composite membranes, the effects of particle sizes, cation sizes, number of protons, etc., of HPA were correlated with the fuel cell performance. To promote stability of the PTA within the membrane matrix, the investigators have employed PTA supported on metal oxides such as silicon dioxide as additives to Nafion. 

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