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Saran R, Klein M, Sharma B, Loke JJ, Perrin QM, Miserez A. Proton conductivity of the protein-based velvet worm slime. iScience 2024; 27:110216. [PMID: 39055923 PMCID: PMC11269932 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The properties of complex bodily fluids are linked to their biological functions through natural selection. Velvet worms capture their prey by ensnaring them with a proteinaceous fluid (slime). We examined the electrical conductivity of slime and found that dry slime is an insulator. However, its conductivity can increase by up to 106 times in its hydrated state, which can be further increased by an order in magnitude under acidic hydration (pH ≈ 2.3). The transient current measured using ion-blocking electrodes showed a continuous decay for up to 7 h, revealing slime's nature as a proton conducting material. Slime undergoes a spontaneous fibrilization process producing high aspect ratio ≈ 105 fibers that exhibit an average conductivity ≈2.4 ± 1.1 mS cm-1. These findings enhance our understanding of slime as a natural biopolymer and provide molecular-level guidelines to rationally design biomaterials that may be employed as hygroscopic conductors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinku Saran
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Maciej Klein
- Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, The Photonic Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
- Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Bhargy Sharma
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Jun Jie Loke
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Quentin Moana Perrin
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Ali Miserez
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Centre for Sustainable Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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2
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Li Q, Song D, Gao W, Wu D, Zhang N, Gao X, Che Q. Construction of Successive Proton Conduction Channels to Accelerate the Proton Conduction Process in Flexible Proton Exchange Membranes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38422459 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Successive proton conduction channels are constructed with the spin coating method in flexible proton exchange membranes (PEMs). In this research, phosphoric acid (PA) molecules are immobilized in the multilayered microstructure of Kevlar nanofibers and polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (SEBS) polymer molecular chains. As a result, successive proton conduction channels can accelerate the proton conduction process in the prepared membrane with the multilayered microstructure. Additionally, the microstructure fractures of the composite membranes from the external force of folding and stretching operations are modified by the inner PA molecules. Notably, numerous PA molecules are further combined through formed intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The stretched membrane absorbs more PA molecules owing to the arrangement of PA molecules, Kevlar nanofibers, and SEBS molecular chains. The stretched membrane thus exhibits the enhanced proton conduction ability, such as the through-plane proton conductivity of 1.81 × 10-1 S cm-1 at 160 °C and that of 4.53 × 10-2 S cm-1 at 120 °C lasting for 600 h. Furthermore, the tensile stress of PA-doped stretched membranes reaches (3.91 ± 0.40)-(6.15 ± 0.43) MPa. A single proton exchange membrane fuel cell exhibits a peak power density of 483.3 mW cm-2 at 120 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingquan Li
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Di Song
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Weimin Gao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Niuniu Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Xinna Gao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Quantong Che
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
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3
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Hemmasi E, Tohidian M, Makki H. Morphology and Transport Study of Acid-Base Blend Proton Exchange Membranes by Molecular Simulations: Case of Chitosan/Nafion. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:10624-10635. [PMID: 38037344 PMCID: PMC10726362 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Blending a basic polymer (e.g., chitosan) with Nafion can modify some membrane properties in direct methanol fuel cell applications, e.g., controlling methanol crossover, by regulating the morphology of hydrophilic channels. Unraveling the mechanisms by which the channel morphology is modified is essential to formulate design strategies for acid-base blend membrane development. Thus, we use molecular simulations to analyze the morphological features of a blend membrane (at 75/25 chitosan/Nafion wt %), i.e., (i) water/polymer phase organizations, (ii) number and size of water clusters, and (iii) quantitative morphological measures of hydrophilic channels, and compare them to the pure Nafion in a wide range of water contents. It is found that the affinity of water to different hydrophilic groups in the blend membrane can result in more distorted and dispersed hydrophilic phase and fewer bulk water-like features compared to pure Nafion. Also, the width of the hydrophilic network bottleneck, i.e., pore limiting diameter (PLD), is found to be almost five times smaller for the blend membrane compared to Nafion at their maximum water contents. Moreover, by changing the chitosan/Nafion weight ratio from 75/25 to 0/100, we show that as Nafion content increases, all channel morphological characteristics alter monotonically except PLD. This is mainly due to the strong acid-base interactions between Nafion and chitosan, which hinder the monotonic growth of PLD. Interestingly, water and methanol diffusion coefficients are strongly correlated with PLD, suggesting that PLD can be used as a single parameter for tailoring the blending ratio for achieving the desired diffusion properties of acid-base membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Hemmasi
- Department
of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir
University of Technology, 424 Hafez Avenue, Tehran 59163-4311, Iran
| | - Mahdi Tohidian
- Department
of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir
University of Technology, 424 Hafez Avenue, Tehran 59163-4311, Iran
| | - Hesam Makki
- Department
of Chemistry and Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K.
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4
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Khalaf M, Saeed AM, Ali AI, Kamoun EA, Fahmy A. Polyelectrolyte membranes based on phosphorylated-PVA/cellulose acetate for direct methanol fuel cell applications: synthesis, instrumental characterization, and performance testing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13011. [PMID: 37563208 PMCID: PMC10415303 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40035-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Designing and synthesis of cost-effective and improved methanol permeable and proton conductive membranes are the main challenges for preparation of polymeric electrolyte membrane (PEM). Herein, a cost-effective PEM membrane based on phosphorylated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-grafted-cellulose acetate (CA) was prepared by a solution-casting technique. Water and methanol uptakes of phosphorylated PVA/CA membranes were characterized as function with the molar ratio of CA. Additionally, structure and morphology of phosphorylated PVA/CA (Ph-PVA/CA) membranes were verified by FT-IR analysis, SEM investigation. Furthermore, ion exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity and methanol permeation of Ph-PVA/CA membranes were examined based on the concentration of OPA basically. The results manifested a perceptible improvement in proton conductivity from 0.035 to 0.05 S/cm at 25 and 70 °C, respectively using 600 μL of OPA, and IEC of 2.1 meq/g using 400 μL of OPA at ambient temperature. On the other hand, methanol permeability (P = 1.08 × 10-10 cm2/s) was lower than Nafion 117 admirably. The optimum OPA concentration was 200 μL according to conductivity measurements (at 10% PVA, 150 μL GA, and CA 7%). Finally, prepared Ph-PVA/CA membranes exhibited enhancement in critical natures such as proton conductivity and IEC combined with its low-cost materials, which make them excellent candidate as PEM for DMFCs application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Khalaf
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Saeed
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed I Ali
- Basic Science Department, Faculty of Technology and Education, Helwan University, Saray-El Qoupa, El Sawah Street, Cairo, 11281, Egypt
| | - Elbadawy A Kamoun
- Polymeric Materials Research Department, Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute (ATNMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg Al-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
- Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), The British University in Egypt (BUE), El-Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
| | - Alaa Fahmy
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
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Wei W, Nan S, Wang H, Xu S, Liu X, He R. Design and preparation of sulfonated polymer membranes for Zn/MnO2 flow batteries with assistance of machine learning. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2023.121453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Wei P, Huang D, Luo C, Sui Y, Li X, Liu Q, Zhu B, Cong C, Zhou Q, Meng X. High-performance sandwich-structure PI/SPEEK+HPW nanofiber composite membrane with balanced proton conductivity and stability. POLYMER 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2023.125800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
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7
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Fabrication of alginate-based multi-crosslinked biomembranes for direct methanol fuel cell application. Carbohydr Polym 2023; 300:120261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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8
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Vatanpour V, Dehqan A, Paziresh S, Zinadini S, Zinatizadeh AA, Koyuncu I. Polylactic acid in the fabrication of separation membranes: A review. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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9
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Charged nanochannels endow COF membrane with weakly concentration-dependent methanol permeability. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2021.120186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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10
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Li J, Tian X, Xia C, Duan Y, Sun YN, Liu B, Wu L, Ru C, Zhang ST, Zhao C. Construction of Proton Transport Highways Induced by Polarity-Driving in Proton Exchange Membranes to Enhance the Performance of Fuel Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:40673-40684. [PMID: 34410701 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c11715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The approach to constructing proton transport channels via direct adjustments, including hydrophilia and analytical acid concentration in hydrophilic domains, has been proved to be circumscribed when encouraging the flatter hydrophilic-hydrophobic microphase separation structures and reducing conductivity activation energy. Here, we propose a constructive solution by regulating the polarity of hydrophobic domains, which indirectly varies the aggregation and connection of hydrophilic ion clusters during membrane formation, enabling orderly self-assembly and homogeneously distributed microphase structures. Accordingly, a series of comb-shaped polymers were synthesized with diversified optimization, and more uniformly distributed ion cluster lattices were subsequently observed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Simultaneously, combining with density functional theory calculations, we analyzed the mechanism of membrane degradations caused by hydroxyl radical attacks. Experimental results demonstrated that, facilitated by proper molecule polarity, beneficial changes of bond dissociation energy could extend the membrane lifetime more than the protection from side chains near ether bonds, which were deemed to reduce the probability of attacks by the steric effect. With the optimal strategy chosen among various trials, the maximum power density of direct methanol fuel cell and H2/air proton exchange membrane fuel cell was enhanced to 95 and 485 mW cm-2, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Li
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Xuzhou Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Chunlei Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Yuting Duan
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Nan Sun
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Binghui Liu
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Liming Wu
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Chunyu Ru
- Powertrain Department, General Institute of FAW, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Shi-Tong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
| | - Chengji Zhao
- Alan G. MacDiarmid Institute, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Batteries Physics and Technology (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China
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11
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Zhang S, Tanioka A, Matsumoto H. De Novo Ion-Exchange Membranes Based on Nanofibers. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:652. [PMID: 34564469 PMCID: PMC8469869 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11090652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The unique functions of nanofibers (NFs) are based on their nanoscale cross-section, high specific surface area, and high molecular orientation, and/or their confined polymer chains inside the fibers. The introduction of ion-exchange (IEX) groups on the surface and/or inside the NFs provides de novo ion-exchangers. In particular, the combination of large surface areas and ionizable groups in the IEX-NFs improves their performance through indices such as extremely rapid ion-exchange kinetics and high ion-exchange capacities. In reality, the membranes based on ion-exchange NFs exhibit superior properties such as high catalytic efficiency, high ion-exchange and adsorption capacities, and high ionic conductivities. The present review highlights the fundamental aspects of IEX-NFs (i.e., their unique size-dependent properties), scalable production methods, and the recent advancements in their applications in catalysis, separation/adsorption processes, and fuel cells, as well as the future perspectives and endeavors of NF-based IEMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoling Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
| | - Akihiko Tanioka
- Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Institute of Carbon Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 4-17-1, Wakasato, Nagano 380-8553, Japan;
| | - Hidetoshi Matsumoto
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
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Hussain S, Deng Z, Khan A, Li P, Li Z, Fang Z, Wan X, Peng X. Photothermal responsive ultrathin Cu-TCPP nanosheets/sulfonated polystyrene nanocomposite photo-switch proton conducting membranes. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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13
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Adenosine triphosphate@graphene oxide proton channels for proton exchange membranes constructed via electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition. J Memb Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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14
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Gao Y, Zhang J, Su Y, Wang H, Wang XX, Huang LP, Yu M, Ramakrishna S, Long YZ. Recent progress and challenges in solution blow spinning. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2021; 8:426-446. [PMID: 34821263 DOI: 10.1039/d0mh01096k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In the past 30 years, researchers have worked towards reducing the size of ordinary three-dimensional (3D) materials into 1D or 2D materials in order to obtain new properties and applications of these low-dimensional systems. Among them, functional nanofibers with large surface area and high porosity have been widely studied and paid attention to. Because of the interesting properties of nanofibers, they find extensive application in filtration, wound dressings, composites, sensors, capacitors, nanogenerators, etc. Recently, a variety of nanofiber preparation methods such as melt blowing, electrospinning (e-spinning), centrifugal spinning and solution blow spinning (SBS) have been proposed. This paper includes a brief review of the fundamental principles of the preparation of nanofibers for solution jet spinning, the influence of experimental parameters, and the properties and potential applications of the solution-blown fibers. And the industrialization and challenges of SBS are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Nanomaterials & Devices, College of Physics, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
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Zhang H, Li Z, Hu L, Gao L, Di M, Du Y, Yan X, Dai Y, Ruan X, He G. Covalent/ionic co-crosslinking constructing ultra-densely functionalized ether-free poly(biphenylene piperidinium) amphoteric membranes for vanadium redox flow batteries. Electrochim Acta 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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