Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) are one of the key components in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs). Protons generated at the anode are transported through water domain in hydrated PEMs, so that the performance of PEFCs depends on proton conduction. It is well known that proton conduction in PEMs causes co-transport of water molecules, whose phenomenon is called by the term �electro-osmosis�. Water/PEMs interface in PEFCs is believed to affect the nature electro-osmosis while its molecular level details are not fully understood yet.  In this presentation, we report results of first-principles molecular dynamics simulations including effects of electric field conducted to investigate the nature of electro-osmosis in hydrated PEMs.

Nature of electro-osmosis in hydrated polymer electrolyte membranes

248th National Meeting (2014)

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