Two novel porous and crystalline hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) that they synthesised could potentially be used as a proton exchange membrane in fuel cells. The proton-conducting materials synthesised by the researchers address one critical issue — achieving a high proton conduction value even at ambient conditions (low humidity of around 60 per cent and moderate temperature). “Our materials have the potential to be used as a proton exchange membrane to improve the efficiency of fuel cells. The team synthesised two organic compounds, and each compound has a proton donor site and a proton acceptor site. Though the two compounds have different hydrophobic characteristics, proton conductivity was high in both the compounds even at low humidity.

Source: The Hindu September 19, 2016 07:07 UTC