{"title":"Functionalized clay nanocomposites for enhanced proton conductivity in polyether-based fuel cell membranes","authors":"Youssef O. Al-Ghamdi , Sherif M.A.S. Keshk","doi":"10.1016/j.clay.2025.107999","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review critically examines the recent progress in the development of sulfonated polyether sulfone (SPES) and its derivatives (including sulfonated polyether sulfone with open sulfonic acid groups (SPESOS)) as functional matrices for next-generation proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. SPES-based membranes offer a tunable backbone, excellent thermal and mechanical stability, and chemical resistance, yet they often suffer from reduced proton conductivity and hydration stability under low-humidity or high-temperature conditions. To overcome these limitations, the integration of functionalized clay nanomaterials such as montmorillonite (Mt), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and sepiolite (Sep) has emerged as a promising strategy. We discuss how these clays improve ionic domain morphology, water uptake, and mechanical reinforcement through molecular-level interactions with sulfonic acid sites. The review highlights scalable fabrication routes (e.g., solution casting, electrospinning, additive manufacturing), performance under realistic operating conditions, and comparisons with commercial Nafion membranes. Particular attention is given to structure property relationships, transport mechanisms, and interfacial engineering strategies that enable defect-free, high-conductivity membranes. Finally, challenges and future perspectives are addressed to guide sustainable, cost-effective membrane design for advanced electrochemical energy systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":245,"journal":{"name":"Applied Clay Science","volume":"278 ","pages":"Article 107999"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Applied Clay Science","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169131725003047","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This review critically examines the recent progress in the development of sulfonated polyether sulfone (SPES) and its derivatives (including sulfonated polyether sulfone with open sulfonic acid groups (SPESOS)) as functional matrices for next-generation proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. SPES-based membranes offer a tunable backbone, excellent thermal and mechanical stability, and chemical resistance, yet they often suffer from reduced proton conductivity and hydration stability under low-humidity or high-temperature conditions. To overcome these limitations, the integration of functionalized clay nanomaterials such as montmorillonite (Mt), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and sepiolite (Sep) has emerged as a promising strategy. We discuss how these clays improve ionic domain morphology, water uptake, and mechanical reinforcement through molecular-level interactions with sulfonic acid sites. The review highlights scalable fabrication routes (e.g., solution casting, electrospinning, additive manufacturing), performance under realistic operating conditions, and comparisons with commercial Nafion membranes. Particular attention is given to structure property relationships, transport mechanisms, and interfacial engineering strategies that enable defect-free, high-conductivity membranes. Finally, challenges and future perspectives are addressed to guide sustainable, cost-effective membrane design for advanced electrochemical energy systems.
期刊介绍:
Applied Clay Science aims to be an international journal attracting high quality scientific papers on clays and clay minerals, including research papers, reviews, and technical notes. The journal covers typical subjects of Fundamental and Applied Clay Science such as:
• Synthesis and purification
• Structural, crystallographic and mineralogical properties of clays and clay minerals
• Thermal properties of clays and clay minerals
• Physico-chemical properties including i) surface and interface properties; ii) thermodynamic properties; iii) mechanical properties
• Interaction with water, with polar and apolar molecules
• Colloidal properties and rheology
• Adsorption, Intercalation, Ionic exchange
• Genesis and deposits of clay minerals
• Geology and geochemistry of clays
• Modification of clays and clay minerals properties by thermal and physical treatments
• Modification by chemical treatments with organic and inorganic molecules(organoclays, pillared clays)
• Modification by biological microorganisms. etc...