Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters · 2006 · 28 citations · 12 references
EngineeringChemical EngineeringMaterials ScienceElectrochemical EngineeringElectrochemistrySurface ScienceAtomic Force MicroscopyFuel Cell MembranesIonic ConductivityMembrane CharacterizationMembrane MaterialsPolymeric MembranesConductive Atomic Force MicroscopyIon ConductivityIon-conducting PolymersProton Conducting MembranesProton ConductorsProton-conducting PolymersRelative Humidity EffectsThin-film Membranes
The conductivity of a proton-conducting membrane (PEM) depends on the characteristics of the ionic clusters both within the polymeric structure and on its outer surfaces. This work explores the use of conductive atomic force microcopy to characterize the surface ionic activity of these membranes and investigates the effect of the surface ionic activity on the performance of PEM fuel cells. Results obtained show that only a fraction of the membrane surfaces is active and that this fraction increases with the relative humidity in the gas phase. Also, no correlation exists between the membrane surface ionic activity and its topography as expected.
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The nature of the hydrated excess proton in water
Dominik Marx, Mark E. Tuckerman, Jürg Hutter et al. · Nature · 1999 · 1.9K citations