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Proton Transport in Electrospun Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Membranes: An Illuminating Paradox
Author(s) -
Santos Leslie Dos,
Maréchal Manuel,
Guillermo Armel,
Lyonnard Sandrine,
Moldovan Simona,
Ersen Ovidiu,
Sel Ozlem,
Perrot Hubert,
LabertyRobert Christel
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201504076
Subject(s) - membrane , dielectric spectroscopy , materials science , chemical physics , proton , proton transport , pulsed field gradient , diffusion , polymer , length scale , electrolyte , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , quasielastic neutron scattering , neutron scattering , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , scattering , electrochemistry , small angle neutron scattering , chemistry , composite material , thermodynamics , electrode , physics , optics , nuclear physics , mechanics , engineering , biochemistry
Chemistry and processing have to be judiciously combined to structure the membranes at various length scales to achieve efficient properties for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell to make it competitive for transport. Characterizing the proton transport at various length and space scales and understanding the interplays between the nanostructuration, the confinement effect, the interactions, and connectivity are consequently needed. The goal here is to study the proton transport in multiscale, electrospun hybrid membranes (EHMs) at length scales ranging from molecular to macroscopic by using complementary techniques, i.e., electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, pulsed field gradient‐NMR spectroscopy, and quasielastic neutron scattering. Highly conductive hybrid membranes (EHMs) are produced and their performances are rationalized taken into account the balances existing between local interaction driven mobility and large‐scale connectivity effects. It is found that the water diffusion coefficient can be locally decreased (2 × 10 −6 cm 2 s −1 ) due to weak interactions with the silica network, but the macroscopic diffusion coefficient is still high (9.6 × 10 −6 cm 2 s −1 ). These results highlight that EHMs have slow dynamics at the local scale without being detrimental for long‐range proton transport. This is possible through the nanostructuration of the membranes, controlled via processing and chemistry.