The effect of side-chain length on the nanophase-segregated structure and transport in perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA)-based and perfluorinated phosphoric acid (PFPA)-based membranes is investigated at 20 and 5 wt % water content conditions using a molecular dynamics simulation method. It is found using the pair correlation analysis that the longer side chain leads to more developed local water structures in the water phase at 20 wt % water content, observable in both membrane chemistries albeit more distinct in PFPA-based membranes. It is also confirmed from the structure factor analysis that large-scale nanophase segregation is enhanced with increasing side-chain length for PFPA membranes, whereas no significant change is observed at these scales for PFSA membranes. Next, it is revealed that the proton transport is increased by 0.004 S/cm in PFSA-based membranes with increasing side-chain length due to the enhanced vehicular and hopping mechanisms, whereas the proton transport in PFPA-based membranes is decreased by 0.002 S/cm despite improved nanophase segregation. As confirmed by the pair correlation function analysis, the diminished proton transport in PFPA-based membranes is attributed to the molecular association of phosphate groups with hydronium ions via hydrogen bond in the longer side-chain case, which is namely a hydronium-mediated bridge configuration. Such bridge configurations and correspondingly similar trends in proton transport are also observed at 5 wt % water content condition to a lesser extent. Our simulation study demonstrates that the proton transport is affected by the hydrogen-bonding network as well as by the nanophase segregation.
In this study, recently established multiresolution spherical indentation stress-strain protocols have been employed to derive new insights into the microstructural changes that occur during the processing of dual-phase (DP) steels. This is accomplished by utilizing indenter tips of different radii such that the mechanical responses can be evaluated both at the macroscale (reflecting the bulk properties of the sample) and at the microscale (reflecting the properties of the constituent phases). More specifically, nine different thermo-mechanical processing conditions involving different combinations of intercritical annealing temperatures and bake hardening after different amounts of cold work were studied. In addition to demonstrating the tremendous benefits of the indentation protocols for evaluating the variations within each sample and between the samples at different material length scales in a high throughput manner, the measurements provided several new insights into the microstructural changes occurring in the alloys during their processing. In particular, the indentation measurements indicated that the strength of the martensite phase reduces by about 37% when quenched from 810 • C compared to being quenched from 750 • C, while the strength of the ferrite phase remains about the same. In addition, during the 10% thickness reduction and bake hardening steps, the strength of the martensite phase shows a small decrease due to tempering, while the strength of the ferrite increases by about 50% by static aging.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.