Issue 3, 2013

Evaluation of the microstructure of dry and hydrated perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers: microscopy and simulations

Abstract

The morphology of dry and hydrated perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers at cryo and room temperature is examined using TEM/STEM with EELS capability. Z-contrast imaging was utilized to identify the micro-phase separation of the hydrophilic side chains containing water and the hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) backbones. The results compare very favourably with hydrated morphologies obtained through mesoscale dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. The cryo-STEM images of plunge-frozen samples was also found to agree with morphologies based on SAXS experiments.

Graphical abstract: Evaluation of the microstructure of dry and hydrated perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers: microscopy and simulations

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Nov 2012
Accepted
08 Nov 2012
First published
15 Nov 2012

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013,1, 938-944

Evaluation of the microstructure of dry and hydrated perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers: microscopy and simulations

C. Wang, V. Krishnan, D. Wu, R. Bledsoe, S. J. Paddison and G. Duscher, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 938 DOI: 10.1039/C2TA01034H

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