AC impedance investigations of proton conduction in Nafion{trademark}

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2221160· OSTI ID:142171

Cahan, B D; Wainright, J S ^[1]

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1. Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States). Case Center for Electrochemical Sciences

AC impedance spectroscopy has been employed to study the conduction of protons in Nafion 117 polymer electrolyte membranes. Both two- and four-electrode geometries have been used to uniquely distinguish between the membrane impedance and the interfacial impedances. The results show that the impedance of Nafion for frequencies up to 100 kHz is characterized by a pure resistance, similar to conventional liquid electrolytes. The frequency dependent features observed using a two-electrode geometry are shown to be consistent with well-characterized interfacial impedances and do not arise from ionic conduction in the membrane. These results show that previous two-electrode studies reported in the literature have misinterpreted the impedance of the electrode interfaces as belonging to the conduction process in the electrolyte.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 142171
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 140; ISSN 0013-4651; ISSN JESOAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
IONIC CONDUCTIVITY
PHOSPHORIC ACID
POLYMERS
SOLID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
SOLID ELECTROLYTES