Proton Conductivity in Polymeric Materials: From Fundamentals to Applications

Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025 View: 235 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Wen-Yao Huang

Email: wyhuang@mail.nsysu.edu.tw

Affiliation: Department of Photonics, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424,Taiwan, China

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Research Interests: Fuel Cells: Proton Exchange Membranes, Organic Photovoltaic Materials and Components (Conjugated Polymers, Organic Light Emitting Diodes, Organic Solar Cells), Preparation of Metallic Oxides (TiO2, SiO2, ZnO, BaTiO3...) by the Sol-Gel Process.

Mr. Abid Hussain

Email: d123090001@student.nsysu.edu.tw

Affiliation: Department of Photonics, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Pakistan

Research Interests: Proton Exchange Membrane Materials, Electrocatalysis for HER, OER and ORR, Catalyst Binders in Energy Devices, Nanomaterials Synthesis

Summary

Proton conductivity within polymeric materials constitutes a pivotal domain in the advancement of modern energy devices, encompassing fuel cells and electrochemical sensors. This special issue investigates the fundamental principles underlying proton transport in polymeric systems and their practical applications, thereby reconciling the disparity between theoretical comprehension and practical application.

The issue explores the molecular-scale interactions that dictate proton conduction, involving Grotthuss hopping, vehicular mechanisms, and the significance of hydrogen bonding networks. It evaluates the structure-property correlations across diverse polymer systems, ranging from conventional sulfonated polymers to innovative metal-organic frameworks and bio-inspired materials.

Highlighted topics include novel synthetic methodologies for proton-conducting polymers, state-of-the-art characterization techniques, and the influence of morphology and water management on conductivity. The issue emphasizes recent advancements in high-temperature proton conductors and composite materials that incorporate nanoscale additives. Particular emphasis is placed on the applications pertaining to hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, which confront critical challenges such as mechanical stability, chemical resilience, and the interrelations between conductivity and temperature. The compilation offers valuable perspectives on the process of scaling production, the amalgamation of devices, and prospective trajectories for realizing improved proton conductivity across a range of operational conditions.

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