Work

Using structurally defective UiO-66 to construct effective proton conduction path in proton exchange membranes

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Water has an important effect on proton conductance process in proton exchange membranes (PEMs). To enlarge the pore size and construct a more efficient water channel, UiO-66 with controllable structural defects were innovatively proposed to blend with SPEEK. Linker defects expose acidic sites, thereby adjusting the hydrophilicity and facilitating the formation of an effective hydrogen bonding network. As a result, S/deU-2 exhibited the highest conductivity under experimental conditions, which was 54.5% higher than that of SPEEK and 31.3% of non-defective UiO-66 filled PEMs. NMR T 2 spectra reviewed that free water, which had the greatest impact on conductivity, accounted for the largest proportion in S/deU-2. In consideration of potential structural weakening due to defect introduction, defect-repair and bioinspired structure optimization strategies were further proposed to balance conductivity and long-term stability.

Source: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.153968

Authors: Xiaocan Zhang, Yiran Liu, Mengxin Wang, Haiyan Liu, Yuting Mu, Yumeng Fo

Institution: China University of Petroleum, Beijing

Language: English

Topic: Fuel Cells and Related Materials

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,730

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing