Two research groups at Virginia Tech have developed a method by coupling X-ray scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure the internal structure of Nafion, a polymer made up of molecules that demonstrate the tough and non-sticky properties of Teflon and conductive characteristics of battery acid.
While measuring Nafion's interior structure, the researchers have found a way to modify its structure to improve the applications of the material. The scientists work at the chemistry department in the Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute and the College of Science at Virginia Tech. They released their findings in the Letters article titled ‘Linear coupling of alignment with transport in a polymer electrolyte membrane’ in Nature Materials’ June 19 issue.
Nafion conducts polymer electrolyte and water effectively via its nanostructure, a tiny channel network of nano-scale. This feature allows the material to be used in energy-associated commercial applications such as reverse-osmosis water purification, organic batteries and fuel cell.
One of the researchers, Louis A. Madsen, commented that the water molecules in Nafion are used to study the efficacy of conduction and structure of the material. He continued that the scientists have found the alignment of polymer molecules, which resemble like dry spaghetti strands in a box.
The scientists discovered that the channels alignment manipulated the direction and speed of water motion. When the researchers enlarged the Nafion’s structure, they got a detailed picture of the structure, facilitating the measurement of water motion and structure. According to them, these findings make it possible to use the material in new applications and to develop new materials.