Proton-conducting membranes based on modified poly(vinyl chloride)

Chlorine atoms of polyvinylchloride were replaced by sulfo and benzimidazolyl groups by nucleophilic substitution. It was shown that the reaction of the polymer with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole sodium salt and sulfuric or chlorosulfonic acid proceeds via dehydrochlorination. The synthesized materials were used for preparing proton-conducting membranes with a proton conductivity of 5.6 × 10−4 to 5.9 × 10−3 S/cm.