Zirconium Phosphate/Fibrous Cerium Phosphate Nanocomposite Membrane Self Supported Benzimidazole, Its Co-Aniline, Co-Pyrrole and Co-Indole Polymerization Agent

Abstract

Nanosized zirconium phosphate and nano fibrous cerium phosphate , Zr(HPO 4) 2 .H 2 O(nZrP) , Ce(HPO 4) 2 .2.9H 2 O (nCeP f), respectively, were prepared and characterized. Mixing slurry aqueous solution of (nZrP and nCeP f) in 25:75 wt/wt% mixing ratios) , respectively, lead to formation of novel zirconium phosphate-fibrous cerium phosphate nanocomposite membrane, [Zr(HPO 4) 2 ] 0.25 [Ce(HPO 4) 2 ] 0.75 .3.87H 2 O(nZrP-nCeP f), was characterized. Zirconium phosphate-fibrous cerium phosphate/ polybenzimidazole-/polybenzimidazolee-co-polyaniline-/polybenzimidazole-co-polypyrrole-/polybenzimidazole-co-polyindole nanocomposite membranes were prepared via in-situ chemical oxidation polymerization of the benzimidazole, and its co-monomers in alcohol, that was promoted by the reduction of Ce(iv) ions present in the inorganic matrix of (nZrP-nCeP f) nanocomposite membrane. A possible explanation is nCeP f , present on the surface of composite membrane, is attacked by benzimidazole and its co-monomers , converted to cerium(III) orthophosphate(CePO 4). The resultant materials were characterized by elemental (C,H,N) analysis , FT-IR, and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) .. SEM images of the resulting nanocomposites reveal a uniform distribution of the polybenzimidazole and its co-polymers on the inorganic matrix.