Proton exchange membranes with high proton conductivity in the through-plane direction are enormously required for fuel cells. However, isotropically distributed proton conducting channels of current membranes imposes a limitation. Herein, we present ...
Proton exchange membranes with high proton conductivity in the through-plane direction are enormously required for fuel cells. However, isotropically distributed proton conducting channels of current membranes imposes a limitation. Herein, we present aligned proton conducting channel in membrane thickness direction, achieved by magnetic field-induced alignment of proton conductive magnetic tungsten disulfides nanowires in Nafion membrane. In contrast to a tortuous proton pathway in conventional Nafion membranes, the nanowire/Nafion composite membrane provides unidirectional pathway in thickness direction. Due to the unidirectional water channels enriched at the interface of the nanowire and Nafion, the composite membrane exhibits enhanced proton conductivity at low humidifications. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell employing the composite membrane shows significantly improved power performance.