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Study Explores How Proton Conduction Changes in Styrene-Based Polymers
Written by AZoMMay 31 2021
Protons are subatomic particles with a positive electric charge and are one of the first particles to have developed following the evolution of the universe. They are also a constituent of each atom existing now.
Schematic representation of the dependence of the main proton transport pathway in polymer thin films on the carboxylic acid group concentration. Image Credit: Yuki Nagao.
In biological systems. proton movement tends to play a major role in the processes of energy conversion, like respiration and photosynthesis. Besides, proton conduction is a key factor for hydrogen fuel cells, which have often been solicited as the perfect clean energy source for the next generation.
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IMAGE: The first measurement of hydroxide conductivity and comparison in anion conducting polymer thin films. (X = OH and Br) view more
Credit: Yuki Nagao from JAIST
Ishikawa, Japan - As decarbonization progresses rapidly in the world, fuel cells offer potentially higher electrical efficiency than conventional power-generating systems. Anion exchange membrane fuel cells offer advantages of using non-precious metal catalysts than proton exchange membrane fuel cells. One of the challenges of this next-generation fuel cell is to clarify the hydroxide ion conductivity in the ion conductive polymer around the electrode catalyst. The difficulty of studying the hydroxide ion conductivity at the electrode interface is that the hydroxide ion, which is a carrier, easily reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. To solve this problem, all evaluation devices were improved so that the sample did not come into contacting with air.