Structural characterization of a new multicomponent membrane (gCN/PTI mixed with Nafion) for energy applications.

Proton exchange membranes are essential components of devices where is required to transport H+ while blocking the flow of other ions and molecules used as reactants. The most common ionomeric material is Nafion, which has excellent H+ conductivity, despite having poor selectivity against other ions and small molecules. It is been found that introducing ~1% gCN (graphitic carbon nitrides) into Nafion/SPEEK membranes enhances H+ conduction. We propose to use neutron scattering to investigate the effects of gCN materials co-deposited with Nafion on the membrane structure that will be correlate with the transport properties. Our studies will provide a first direct evaluation of the effects of GO and gCN/PTI 2D nanomaterials incorporated in ionomer membrane structures for fuel cell and other energy conversion/storage applications.

质子交换膜（proton exchange membranes）是用于传输氢离子（H+）且需阻隔作为反应物的其他离子与分子流动的各类器件不可或缺的核心组成部分。目前最常用的离聚体材料为纳菲昂（Nafion），尽管其对其他离子与小分子的选择性较差，但具备优异的氢离子传导性能。研究表明，向纳菲昂/磺化聚醚醚酮（Nafion/SPEEK）膜中掺入约1%的石墨相氮化碳（graphitic carbon nitrides，gCN）可提升氢离子传导性能。本研究拟采用中子散射（neutron scattering）技术，探究与纳菲昂共沉积的gCN材料对膜结构的影响，该结构将与质子传输特性相关联。本研究将首次直接评估掺入离聚体膜结构、应用于燃料电池及其他能源转换/存储场景的氧化石墨烯（graphene oxide，GO）与gCN/PTI二维纳米材料的作用效果。