The impedance and the subsequent proton conductivity of Nafion$\^$/ membranes as standard samples were measured and compared via the two-probe method and the four-probe method using the prepared impedance measurement system. The different impedance behavior for the same membrane was observed at the fully hydrated state in the Nyquist impedance plot. The effect of the humidity and the temperature on the proton conduction through a membrane was investigated and compared with two different cell configurations.

We developed a water-selective ceramic composite membrane for use as a dehydration membrane reactor for dimethylether (DME) synthesis from methanol. The membranes were modified on the porous stainless steel support by the sol-gel method accompanied by a suction process. The improved membrane modification process was effective in increasing the vapour permselectivity by removal of defects and pinholes. The optimized alumina/silica composite membrane exhibited a water permeance of 1.14${\times}$10$^{-7}$ mol/$m^2$.sec.Pa and a water/methanol selectivity of 8.4 at permeation temperature of 25$0^{\circ}C$. The catalytic reaction for DME synthesis from methanol using the membrane was performed at 23$0^{\circ}C$, and the reaction conversion was compared with that of the conventional fixed-bed reactor. The reaction conversion of the membrane reactor was much higher than that of the conventional fixed-bed reactor. The reaction conversion of the membrane reactor and the conventional fixed-bed reactor was 82.5 and 68.0%, respectively. This improvement of reaction efficiency can last if the water vapour produced in the reaction zone is removed continuously.

The silica containing carbon (C-SiO$_2$) membranes were fabricated using poly(imide siloxane) (PIS) having -CO- swivel group. The characteristics of porous C-SiO$_2$ structures prepared by the pyrolysis of poly(imide siloxane) were related with the micro-phase separation between the imide block and the siloxane block. Furthermore, the nitrogen adsorption isotherms of the CMS and the C-SiO$_2$ membranes were investigated to define the characteristics of porous structures. The C-SiO$_2$ membranes derived from PIS showed the type IV isotherm and possessed the hysteresis loop, which was associated with the mesoporous carbon structures, while the CMS membranes derived from PI showed the type I isotherm. For the molecular sieving probe, the C-SiO$_2$ membranes pyrolyzed at 550, 600, and 700$^{\circ}C$ showed the O$_2$ permeability of 924, 1076, and 367 Barrer (1 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-10/㎤(STP)cm/$\textrm{cm}^2$$.$s$.$cmHg) and O$_2$/N$_2$ selectivity of 9, 8, and 12.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) and hyaluronic acid(HA) hydrogel membranes were prepared with varying HA contents from 10 to 50 wt% of PVA. The water contents of the resulting PVA-HA hydrogel membranes in various pH conditions were measured. And the permeation coefficient of indomethacin was determined using several PVA-HA hydrogel membranes at various pH conditions and also 37$^{\circ}C$.

The gas permeation performance of commercially available polyetherimide (Ultem$\^$/) is simulated by means of molecular dynamics methods. By the observation of trajectory, long distance hopping of gas molecules is needed to transverse from top to bottom of membrane. Two possibilities mechanism of diffusion phenomena through glassy polymers can be issued. Diffusion coefficients were calculated by Einstein relation equation. In solubility simulation, the value of the constants C'$\_$H/ and b for O$_2$ at 300 K were calculated. The diffusion and solubility coefficient of He for PEI were simulated in this simulation work. the permeability coefficient is 9.88 Barrer. This value is closed to experimental value of 9.4 Barrer.

Comb-type graft hydrogels composed of alginate and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) were prepared to manifest rapid temperature and pH sensitivity. To appear the electro-sensitivity, the polyaniline, conducting polymer, was added into the matrix. The swelling kinetics and ratios were compared under the various compositions of polyaniline. The swelling behaviors revealed that conducting polymer/hydrogel composites could control the swelling ratio and kinetics. The addition of polyaniline in the matrix improved the thermal stability in comparison with that of the hydrogel without polyaniline. In temperature sensitivity, the adding the polyaniline into the matrix decreased the degree of change in the swelling ratio. The swelling ratios continuously increased with increasing pH values. The drug release rate from the hydrogel increased with the adding the polyaniline and the applying the direct voltage to the hydrogels.

Organic-inorganic composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone) (sPPES)/silica hybrid were prepared using the sol-gel process under acidic conditions. The sulfonation of PPES with concentrated sulfuric acid as sulfonation agent was carried out to prepare proton exchange membrane material. The behaviors of the proton conductivity and methanol permeability are depended on the sulfonation time (5-100 hr). The hybrid membranes composed of highly sulfonated PPES (IEC value: 1.42 meq./g) and silica were fabricated from different silica content (5-20 wt%) in order to achieve desirable proton conductivity and methanol permeability demanded for fuel cell applications. The silica particles within membranes were used for the purpose of blocking excessive methanol cross-over and for forming the path way to transport of the proton due to absorbing water molecules with ≡SiOH on silica. The presence of silica particles in the organic polymer matrix results in hybrid membranes with reduced methanol permeability and improved proton conductivity.

In recent years, an increasing interest in membrane technology has been observed in chemical and environmental industry. Membrane technology has advantages of low cost, energy saving and environmental clean technology comparing to conventional separation processes. Pervaporation is one of new advanced membrane technology applied for separation of azeotropic mixtures, aqueous organic mixtures, organic solvent and petrochemical mixtures. Sodium alginate composite membranes were prepared for the enhancement of long-term stability of pervaporation performance of water-ethanol mixture using pervaporation. Sodium alginate membranes were crosslinked with CaCl$_2$ and coated with polyelectrolyte chitosan to protect washing out of calcium ions from the polymer. The surface structures of PAN and hydrolysed PAN membrane were confirmed by ATR Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). A field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM; Jeol 6340F) operated at 15 kV. Concentration profiles for Ca in the membrane surface and membrane cross-section were taken by an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyser (Jeol) attached to the field emission scanning electron microscopy (Jeol 6340F). Pervaporation experiments were done with several operation run times to investigate long-term stability of the membranes.

Small angle light scattering (SALS) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) have been used to investigate the effects of alcohol on phase separation of chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC)/tetrahydrofuran (THF)/alcohol (9/61/30 wt%) solution during water vapor induced phase separation. A typical scattering pattern of nucleation & growth (NG) was observed for all casting solutions of CPVC/THF/alcohol. In the case of the phase separation of CPVC dope solution containing 30 wt% ethanol or n-propanol, the demixing with NG was observed to be heterogeneous. Meanwhile, the phase separation of CPVC dope solution with 30 wt% n-butanol was found to be predominantly homogeneous NG. Although the different phase separation behavior of NG was observed with types of alcohol additives, the resultant surface morphology had no remarkable differences. That is, even though the NG process by water vapor is either homogeneous or heterogeneous, this difference does not play a main role on the final surface morphology. However, it was estimated from the result of hydraulic flux that the phase separation by homogeneous NG provided the membrane geometry with lower resistance in comparison with that by heterogeneous one.