Project

Discipline

supramolecular chemistry; auto-assembly; polycondensed aromatic hydrocarbon; columnar stacks; proton-conducting membrane; poly-condensed aromatic hydrocarbons

Lead
Lay summary
The project proposes the fabrication of a new type of selective proton permeable membrane, by combining a supramolecular organized functionalized monomer with a suitable support. This device is intended to mimic the function of Nafion®, the most widely used membrane material in fuel cells, but to excel this material with respect to durability under working conditions.The concept involves a alkyl/perfluoroalkyl substituted HBC derivative, in which one out of six side chains is terminating in a sulfonic acid function. The pronounced stacking behavior of the HBC core should organize this molecule in a supramolecular structure exhibiting long and aligned ion conducting channels. Deposition of this material on a Teflon® coated porous support would then yield the desired proton permeable membrane.Based on previous own research in the field, important intermediates in the challenging synthesis of the target compound have already been achieved. However, a few crucial steps still need to be developed, before the material could be deposited on a suitable support and tested for its intended function.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 21.02.2013

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

The project proposes the fabrication of a new type of selective proton permeable mem-branes, by combining a supramolecular organized functionalized monomer with a suitable support. This device is intended to mimic the function of Nafion®, the most widely used membrane material in fuel cells, but to excel this material with respect to durability under working conditions.The concept involves a alkyl/perfluoroalkyl substituted HBC derivative, in which one out of six side chains is terminating in a sulfonic acid function. The pronounced stacking be-havior of the HBC core should organize this molecule in a supramolecular structure exhib-iting long and aligned ion conducting channels. Deposition of this material on Teflon® coated porous support would then yield the desired proton permeable membrane.Based on previous own research in the field, important intermediates in the challenging synthesis of the target compound have already been achieved. However, a few crucial steps still need to be developed, before the material could be deposited on a suitable support and tested for its intended function.