Mar 02 2022

Professor UMEBAYASHI Yasuhiro’s research group in the natural sciences (Faculty of Science) in Niigata University and Assistant Professor WATANABE Hikari of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Tokyo University of Science (enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University at the time of the research) has discovered a proton-conducting liquid that exhibits high proton (hydrogen ion, H⁺) conductivity. They also clarified the proton conduction mechanism. It can be expected that this leads to substitution for the electrolyte currently used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. This achievement can take the development of new fuel cells one step forward.

Research Results

• Proton conduction is essential in fuel cell performance.
• We succeeded in discovering a new proton-conducting liquid and elucidating its mechanism.
• We expect this discovery to provide a design guideline for excellent proton conduction liquids.

Publication Details

Journal:?Journal of Molecular Liquids
Title: Ionic Conduction within Non-Stoichiometric N-Methylimidazole-Acetic Acid Pseudo-Protic Ionic Liquid Mixtures
Authors: Hikari Watanabe, Nana Arai, Jihae Han, Yui Kawana, Yasuhiro Umebayashi
DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.118705