The introduction of sulfonic acid modified silica in Nafion nanocomposite membranes is a good method of improving the Nafion performance at high temperature and low relative humidity. Sulfonic acid-modified silica is bifunctional, with silica phase expected to offer an improvement in membranes hydration while sulfonic groups enhance proton conductivity. However, as discussed in this paper, this...

A novel Nafion®-based nanocomposite membrane was synthesized to be applied as direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated with a layer of silica and then reacted by chlorosulfonic acid to produce sulfonate-functionalized silicon dioxide coated carbon nanotubes (CNT@SiO2-SO3H). The functionalized CNTs were then introduced to Nafion®, and subsequently, methanol permeab...

Due to the higher hydrogen solubility and diffusivity, gadolinium sesquioxide (Gd2O3) could be expected as a proton conductive material. In this study, monoclinic Gd2O3 was used evaluate possible conductivity in Ar (?Ar), Ar+4% H2 (?H2), D2 (?D2), Ar+H2O (?H2O), Ar+D2O (?D2O), O2 (?O2) atmospheres temperature range from 500°C 1000°C, understand its application DT fuel system of nuclear fusion r...

This study describes the preparation of a novel proton conducting membranes based on bacterial cellulose (BC) modified by grafting of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1 -propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) through UV-induced graft polymerization. These AMPS-g-BC membranes have been characterized by various techniques including FTIR, SEM and TGA, to find their successful grafting of AMPS on BC, surface morphology ...

The light-induced proton uptake of rod outer segment disc membranes has been investigated in the absence and presence of G-protein. Proton uptake was measured as the alkalisation of the suspending medium using a pH electrode and/or the indicator dye bromocresol purple. It was found that besides the known proton uptake of photolysed rhodopsin additional uptake of one proton accompanies formation...

Proton exchang e membranes e xhibiting a well-org anized structure were successfully prepared by a novel self-assembling technique using surface-charged latex nanoparticles as building blocks. The nanoparticles were synthesized in water by free-radical copolymerization. Free-standing membranes were obtained by casting the poly mer e mulsions followed by a cross-linking reaction. The acquired me...

Proton exchange membranes for fuel cells were synthesized from the blend of copolymers of vinyl acetate-acrylic ester and styrene-acrylic ester, which were modified by sulfonation and addition of silica gel. Water uptake, ion exchange capacity, infrared spectroscopy and tensile tests were applied to characterize the prepared membranes. The results show that the prepared membranes with the proce...

In extreme environments varying from hot to cold, acidic to alkaline, and highly saline, mainly Archaea are found. Thermophilic and extremely acidophilic Archaea have a membrane that contains membrane spanning tetraether lipids. These tetra-ether membranes have a limited permeability for protons even at the high temperatures of growth and this property makes it possible for thermophilic archaea...

Reaction centers of the phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris were introduced as proton motive force-generating systems in membrane vesicles of two anaerobic bacteria. Liposomes containing reaction center-light-harvesting complex I pigment protein complexes were fused with membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris or Clostridium acetobutylicum by freeze-thawing and sonication. Ill...