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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Standardizing the Development of Amine-Based Silica Composites as CO2 Adsorbents for Direct Air Capture
Published on: September 29, 2023
Silica Containing Composite Anion Exchange Membranes by Sol-Gel Synthesis: A Short Review
Emanuela Sgreccia1, Riccardo Narducci1, Philippe Knauth2
1Department of Industrial Engineering and International Laboratory "Ionomer Materials for Energy", University of Rome Tor Vergata, I-00133 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
This short review summarizes the literature on composite anion exchange membranes (AEM) containing an organo-silica network formed by sol-gel chemistry. The article covers AEM for diffusion dialysis (DD), for electrochemical energy technologies including fuel cells and redox flow batteries, and for electrodialysis. By applying a vast variety of organically modified silica compounds (ORMOSIL), many composite AEM reported in the last 15 years are based on poly (vinylalcohol) (PVA) or poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) used as polymer matrix. The most stringent requirements are high permselectivity and water flux for DD membranes, while high ionic conductivity is essential for electrochemical applications. Furthermore, the alkaline stability of AEM for fuel cell applications remains a challenging problem that is not yet solved. Possible future topics of investigation on composite AEM containing an organo-silica network are also discussed.
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