Ja. Elliott et al., Atomistic simulation and molecular dynamics of model systems for perfluorinated ionomer membranes, PCCP PHYS C, 1(20), 1999, pp. 4855-4863
An atomistic model for perfluorinated ionomer membranes (PIMs), in particul
ar Nafion materials, is presented and used in conjunction with NVT molecula
r dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamic and configurational prope
rties of these polymers. It is found that the electrostatic term in the for
ce field is responsible for the formation of an apparently phase separated
morphology which is selectively conductive, favouring the passage of cation
s. Specifically, the mobility of H3O+ ions is found to be similar to 3.2 ti
mes greater than that of OH- ions, under the application of an external ele
ctric field. This phenomenon is shown to be consistent with a jump diffusio
n model of ion transport in PIMs. There is also evidence for the existence
of water in two distinct environments in the simulations: both tightly boun
d to ion exchange groups, and more loosely associated with the fluorocarbon
matrix.