OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 4 2 (June 2014) 2014 04 29 Cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol)/sulfonated nanoporous silica hybrid membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cell 10.1007/s40097-014-0097-y EN Hossein Beydaghi Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, IR Mehran Javanbakht Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, IR Alireza Badiei School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, IR Journal Article 2014 04 29 Abstract Organic–inorganic nanocomposite membranes of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and nanoporous silica containing sulfonic acid groups are synthesized in order to increase the proton conductivity, water retention and thermal stability of membrane. The cross-linked PVA/SBA-15-propyl-SO 3 H nanocomposite membrane was prepared by solution casting method. Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are used to characterize and confirm the structure of PVA and the cross-linked membranes. The impedance spectroscopy, water uptake and thermal stability of membranes are investigated to confirm their applicability in fuel cells. It was found that the cross-linked PVA/SBA-15-propyl-SO 3 H nanocomposite membrane appears to be a good candidate for using in PEM fuel cell.