TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Acid-tuned Terphenyl Membranes (ATM)

Acid-tuned Terphenyl Membranes (ATM) from Los Alamos National Laboratory delivers a fundamentally smarter approach to hydrocarbon proton exchange membrane design, replacing the brute-force strategy of adding more sulfonic acid groups with a precise molecular tweak that strengthens each acid site individually. By installing an electron-withdrawing unit next to the sulfonic acid group, the membrane achieves higher proton conductivity while cutting water uptake by more than half compared to its unmodified counterpart, a combination that provides a promising basis for improved dimensional stability and membrane durability. The result is a hydrocarbon platform that can rival perfluorinated incumbents on performance while opening a path to lower-cost, more sustainable clean energy hardware.

How it Works

ATM works by chemically tuning the acidity of the sulfonic acid groups that carry protons through the membrane, rather than simply adding more of them. A single electron-withdrawing unit is positioned adjacent to each sulfonic acid group along the polymer side chain, which makes it easier for the acid to release a proton and conduct it across the membrane. Because each acid site is intrinsically more effective, the polymer can hit competitive conductivity targets without needing the heavy sulfonation that normally causes a hydrocarbon membrane to swell, soften and lose its ion-transport channels under wet operating conditions.

Technical Description

The ATM platform uses a rigid terphenyl-based polymer backbone designed to carry sulfonic acid groups, the chemical sites responsible for moving protons across the robust membrane. The approach includes a baseline polymer with conventional sulfonic acid side chains and an engineered version in which a small fluorinated unit is placed directly next to each acid site. That efficient electron-withdrawing unit pulls electrons away from the acid group, which makes each site a stronger and more efficient proton donor. Because every acid site does more work on its own, the membrane can reach competitive conductivity without packing in extra sulfonic acid groups, which is the change that normally drives runaway water uptake, swelling and loss of mechanical strength in hydrocarbon membranes.

Membrane property measurement performed at typical water electrolyzer operating conditions, 80 C and fully humidified, shows the engineered polymer reaching 87 mS/cm proton conductivity with only 20% water uptake, compared to 79 mS/cm and 51% water uptake for the unmodified version. Higher conductivity paired with less than half the water absorption points to better hydration control, improved dimensional stability and a stronger foundation for long-term durability in real membrane electrode assemblies. Just as critical, the underlying design principle of tuning the acid site itself rather than multiplying acid groups is broadly applicable, offering a template for a wider family of next-generation hydrocarbon membranes serving fuel cells, electrolyzers and related electrochemical devices.

Advantages

Higher proton conductivity than the unmodified hydrocarbon analog, without resorting to excessive sulfonation

Water uptake reduced by more than 60% relative to the baseline polymer, supporting better dimensional stability

Built on a rigid aromatic terphenyl backbone associated with good mechanical integrity

Provides a hydrocarbon-based, potentially lower-cost alternative to perfluorosulfonic acid membranes such as Nafion

Design principle is transferable, offering a platform strategy across multiple membrane chemistries

Market Applications

Hydrogen

Transportation

Power Generation

Energy Storage

Off-road Equipment

Electrochemical Devices

TRL 3

U.S. Patent pending

LA-UR-26-26025

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