Issue 20, 2016

Enhancement of ‘dry’ proton conductivity by self-assembled nanochannels in all-solid polyelectrolytes

Abstract

Proton transport has been recognized as an essential process in many biological systems, as well as electrochemical devices including fuel cells and redox flow batteries. In the present study, we address the pressing need for solvent-free proton conducting polymer electrolytes for high-temperature PEM fuel cell applications by developing a novel all-solid polyelectrolyte membrane with a self-assembled proton-channel structure. We show that this self-assembled nanostructure endows the material with exciting ‘dry’ proton conductivity at elevated temperatures, as high as 0.3 mS cm−1 at 120 °C, making it an attractive candidate for high-temperature PEM fuel cell applications. Based on the combined investigation of solid-state NMR, FTIR and conductivity measurements, we propose that both molecular design and nano-scale structures are essential for obtaining highly conductive anhydrous proton conductors.

Graphical abstract: Enhancement of ‘dry’ proton conductivity by self-assembled nanochannels in all-solid polyelectrolytes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Jan 2016
Accepted
20 Mar 2016
First published
21 Mar 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 7615-7623

Enhancement of ‘dry’ proton conductivity by self-assembled nanochannels in all-solid polyelectrolytes

A. H. Shah, J. Li, H. Yang, U. A. Rana, V. Ranganathan, H. M. Siddigi, D. R. MacFarlane, M. Forsyth and H. Zhu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 7615 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA00368K

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