Hydrogen Bonding: A Channel for Protons to Transfer through Acid-Base Pairs

Different from H3O+ transport as in the vehicle mechanism, protons find another channel to transfer through the poorly hydrophilic interlayers in a hydrated multiphase membrane. This membrane was prepared from poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone kentone) (SPPESK) and H+-form perfluorosulfonic resin (FSP), and poorly hydrophilic electrostatically interacted acid-base pairs constitute the interlayer between two hydrophilic phases (FSP and SPPESK). By hydrogen bonds forming and breaking between acid-base pairs and water molecules, protons transport directly through these poorly hydrophilic zones. The multiphase membrane, due to this unique transfer mechanism, exhibits better electrochemical performances during fuel cell tests than those of pure FSP and Nafion-112 membranes: 0.09-0.12 S cm(-1) of proton conductivity at 25 degrees C and 990 mW cm(-2) of the maximum power density at a current density of 2600 mA cm(-2) and a cell voltage of 0.38 V.