flexible cation exchange membrane based on modified k-carrageenan/pva double network hydrogel with high ionic conductivity

In this study, new biocompatible double network (dn) hydrogel of kc-g-p(aa-co-tba)/pva was prepared based on a crosslinked blend of modified k-carrageenan (kc) and polyvinyl alcohol (pva). the obtained hydrogel was cast to form the corresponding membrane. this hydrogel w:as char:acterized and compared with the kc, pva, and kc/pva membranes. the kc-g-p(aa-co-tba)/pva dn membrane showed desirable properties as the cation exchange membrane with water uptake of 70.7%, ion exchange capacity of 0.47 meq/g, the ionic conductivity of 1.99×10-2 s/cm2.