Superfast proton diffusion achieved in a plasma-polymerized fuel-cell membrane

Vanessa K. Peterson*, Cormac S. Corr, Roderick W. Boswell, Zunbeltz Izaola, Gordon J. Kearley

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We measure superfast proton diffusion in a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) produced by plasma polymerization. The proton self-diffusion is measured in water-saturated PEMs from the proton autocorrelation function obtained from quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). 41(3)% of protons in the plasma-produced membrane diffuse at a rate that is an order of magnitude faster than that measured in the commercially available membrane, Nafion, and this is achieved in low hydration conditions. Both molecular dynamic simulations and experimental results are consistent with an assisted superfast diffusion process that may open the way to more powerful fuel cells.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)4351-4357
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
    Volume117
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 7 Mar 2013

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