# Study identifies path to design stable, durable polymer membranes for clean energy

**URL:** <https://community.materialssquare.com/t/study-identifies-path-to-design-stable-durable-polymer-membranes-for-clean-energy/944>\
**Category:** News\
**Created:** [November 26, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.materialssquare.com/t/study-identifies-path-to-design-stable-durable-polymer-membranes-for-clean-energy/944 "2024-11-26T16:53:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gabriele1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex003/user_avatar/community.materialssquare.com/gabriele1/32/20_2.png) [@gabriele1](https://community.materialssquare.com/u/gabriele1)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.materialssquare.com/t/study-identifies-path-to-design-stable-durable-polymer-membranes-for-clean-energy/944/1 "2024-11-26T16:53:23Z")

</div>

A study by researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Clemson University has identified a method to design stable, lightweight polymer membranes for clean energy applications. Using neutron scattering and computational modeling, the team explored how ionic clusters in polymer electrolytes, crucial for proton transport in fuel cells, can be manipulated. Adding ethanol as a solvent enabled precise control over cluster size and structure, enhancing conductivity and stability. This insight could lead to more efficient and durable materials for clean energy technologies, addressing challenges of weight and efficiency in fuel-cell-powered devices. The findings, published in _Macromolecules_, highlight the role of advanced neutron scattering techniques in optimizing material properties.

For more details, please continue reading the full article under the following link:

> **[Study identifies path to design stable, durable polymer membranes for clean...](https://phys.org/news/2024-11-path-stable-durable-polymer-membranes.html)**
>
> Electrolytes that convert chemical to electrical energy underlie the search for new power sources with zero emissions. Among these new power sources are fuel cells that produce electricity.

* * *

In general, if you enjoy reading this kind of scientific news articles, I would also be keen to connect with fellow researchers based on common research interests, including the possibility to discuss about any potential interest in the Materials Square cloud-based online platform ( [www.matsq.com](http://www.matsq.com) ), designed for streamlining the execution of materials and molecular atomistic simulations!

Best regards,

Dr. Gabriele Mogni

Technical Consultant and EU Representative  
Virtual Lab Inc., the parent company of the Materials Square platform  
Website: [Home | Virtual Lab Inc.](http://www.virtuallab.co.kr/en/)  
Email: gabriele@simulation.re.kr

#materials #materialsscience #materialsengineering #computationalchemistry #modelling #chemistry #researchanddevelopment #research #MaterialsSquare #ComputationalChemistry #Tutorial #DFT #simulationsoftware #simulation