Abstract
We have investigated adenine and guanine functional PGMAAdenine and PGMAGuanine as proton-conducting bioinspired membranes. Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) was prepared by free-radical polymerization and then modified with adenine and guanine molecules via ring opening of the epoxide ring. The complexed structure of the polymers was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and (13)C CP-MAS NMR and elemental analysis studies. The blends of adenine and guanine functional polymers with phosphoric acid (H(3)PO(4)) and poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) (PVPA) were prepared in several stoichiometric ratios. The thermal and proton-conducting properties of these membranes were investigated in the anhydrous state. Phosphoric acid-doped polymers had lower T(g) values and higher proton conductivities than PVPA blends of adenine and guanine functional PGMA. (PGMAAdenine)-(H(3)PO(4))(2) had a maximum water-free proton conductivity of approximately 4 mS/cm at 150 degrees C.