Effect of Substrate Surface Charges on Proton Conduction of Ultrathin Nafion Films

A potential approach to enhance the suppressed proton conductivity of nanoscale ultrathin Nafion films is to adjust the ionomer structure via regulating the catalyst–ionomer interaction. To understand the interaction between substrate surface charges and Nafion molecules, self-assembled ultrathin films (∼20 nm) were prepared on the SiO 2 model substrates, which were modified with silane coupling agents to carry either negative (COO – ) or positive (NH 3 + ) charges. Specifically, the surface energy, phase separation, and proton conductivity were investigated by contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, and microelectrodes to illuminate the relationship between the substrate surface charge, thin-film nanostructure, and proton conduction. Compared to electrically neutral substrates, ultrathin films formed faster on the negatively charged substrate with an 83% increase in proton conductivity but formed more slowly on the positively charged substrate, with proton conductivity decreased by 35% at 50 °C. The surface charges interact with sulfonic acid groups of Nafion molecules to alter molecular orientation, resulting in different surface energies and phase separation, which are responsible for proton conductivity variation.