Sulfophenylated centimeter-sized graphene membrane in a direct methanol fuel cell

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Weizhe Zhang - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Max Makurat - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Xue Liu - , Leiden University, Xi'an Jiaotong University (Author)
  • Buhang Chen - , Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (Author)
  • Yanglizhi Li - , Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (Author)
  • Xiaoting Liu - , Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (Author)
  • Thomas J.F. Kock - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Andy Jiao - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Guangya Jiang - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Christopher Leist - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Clément Maheu - , Technische Universität Darmstadt, Université de Nantes (Author)
  • Hikmet Sezen - , Technische Universität Darmstadt (Author)
  • Dario Calvani - , Leiden University, Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Ismail Eren - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Lin Jiang - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Francesco Buda - , Leiden University (Author)
  • Haoyuan Qi - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Jan P. Hofmann - , Technische Universität Darmstadt (Author)
  • Xinliang Feng - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Author)
  • Ute Kaiser - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Luzhao Sun - , Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (Author)
  • Zhongfan Liu - , Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (Author)
  • Agnieszka Kuc - , Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Thomas Heine - , Chair of Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Yonsei University (Author)
  • Grégory F. Schneider - , Leiden University (Author)

Abstract

An ideal proton exchange membrane should only allow protons to pass and remain impermeable to fuels, as required in fuel cell applications. In methanol fuel cells, high proton conductivity enables high power density, whereas methanol crossover between the electrodes degrades the catalyst activity and lowers efficiency. In conventional polymer membranes, however, conductivity and selectivity are often antagonistic: long transport pathways are needed to achieve selectivity, but these introduce additional ionic resistance. Graphene, a two-dimensional material consisting of a single atomic layer of carbon, intrinsically addresses both requirements. Its basal plane is impermeable to water and other molecules, while still exhibiting a measurable degree of proton conductivity. Here, we show that chemical functionalization of monolayer graphene with sulfophenyl groups significantly enhances its proton transport properties. The conductance increases from 6.9 ± 1.1 to 30.9 ± 2.3 S·cm-2, while the energy barrier for proton transport is reduced to 6.9 kJ·mol-1. These findings propose functionalized graphene as an alternative to polymer membranes for electrochemical energy devices.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number10857
JournalNature communications
Volume16
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41309551