One Dimensional Enhanced Anhydrous Proton Conduction in Well Defined Molecular Columns Induced by Non-Covalent Interactions

Proton Conducting Membranes with Molecular Self Assemblies and Ionic Channels for Efficient Proton Conduction

Supramolecular assemblies are vital for biological systems. This phenomenon in artificial materials is directly related to their numerous properties and their performance. Here, a simple approach to supramolecular assemblies is employed to fabricate highly efficient proton conducting molecular wires for fuel cell applications. Small molecule-based molecular assembly leading to a discotic columnar architecture is achieved, simultaneously with proton conduction that can take place efficiently in the absence of water, which otherwise is very difficult to obtain in interconnected ionic channels. High boiling point proton facilitators are incorporated into these columns possessing central ionic channels, thereby increasing the conduction multifold. Larger and asymmetrical proton facilitators disintegrated the self-assembly, resulting in low proton conduction efficiency. The highest conductivity was found to be approaching 10^-2 S/cm for the molecular wires in an anhydrous state, which is ascribed to the continuous network of hydrogen bonds in which protons can hop between with a lower energy barrier. The molecular wires with ionic channels presented here have potential as an alternative to proton conductors operating under anhydrous conditions at both low and high temperatures.

Perspective: Morphology and ion transport in ion-containing polymers from multiscale modeling and simulations

Ion-containing polymers are soft materials composed of polymeric chains and mobile ions. Over the past several decades they have been the focus of considerable research and development for their use as the electrolyte in energy conversion and storage devices. Recent and significant results obtained from multiscale simulations and modeling for proton exchange membranes (PEMs), anion exchange membranes (AEMs), and polymerized ionic liquids (polyILs) are reviewed. The interplay of morphology and ion transport is emphasized. We discuss the influences of polymer architecture, tethered ionic groups, rigidity of the backbone, solvents, and additives on both morphology and ion transport in terms of specific interactions. Novel design strategies are highlighted including precisely controlling molecular conformations to design highly ordered morphologies; tuning the solvation structure of hydronium or hydroxide ions in hydrated ion exchange membranes; turning negative ion-ion correlations to positive correlations to improve ionic conductivity in polyILs; and balancing the strength of noncovalent interactions. The design of single-ion conductors, well-defined supramolecular architectures with enhanced one-dimensional ion transport, and the understanding of the hierarchy of the specific interactions continue as challenges but promising goals for future research.