Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc.Sep 13 2024
The research team at Kumamoto University, under the direction of Assistant Professor Kazuto Hatakeyama and Professor Shintaro Ida of the Institute of Industrial Nanomaterials, has reported a ground-breaking advancement in hydrogen ion barrier films utilizing graphene oxide (GO) without internal pores in a study that was published in Small. Significant improvements in protective coatings for a range of applications will be possible with this novel method.
In their study, the scientists were able to effectively create a thin film from a novel, pore-free type of graphene oxide. Since GO has a history of strong ionic conductivity, using it as an ion barrier has proven difficult. On the other hand, the researchers produced a material with significantly better hydrogen ion barrier qualities by removing the interior pores.
Out-of-plane proton conductivity data from AC impedance spectroscopy show that the novel graphene oxide film performs up to 100,000 times better in terms of hydrogen ion barrier than standard GO films. This innovation was further validated in tests by the non-porous graphene oxide layer, which successfully shielded lithium foil from water droplets and stopped any interaction between the two.
Image Credit: Dabarti CGI/Shutterstock.com
The study further demonstrated that hydrogen ions pass through the pores in conventional GO, emphasizing how important it is to close these pores to improve barrier properties. This development provides new opportunities for the use of protective coatings, hydrogen infrastructure, and rust prevention.
The study represents a major breakthrough in the field of materials science and could result in the development of coatings with improved protective qualities in the future.
Moving forward, we plan to harness the hydrogen ion barrier performance for practical applications, while also addressing the challenges posed by the 'pores' in the GO structure to unlock additional functionalities.
Hatakeyama, Assistant Professor, Kumamoto University
Journal Reference:
Tsugawa, T., et al. (2024) Anomalous Proton Blocking Property of Pore-Free Graphene Oxide Membrane. Small. doi.org/10.1002/smll.202400707