title: Microscopic analysis of current and mechanical properties of nafion® studied by atomic force microscopy.
abstract: The conductivity of fuel cell membranes as well as their mechanical properties at the nanometer scale were characterized using advanced tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. AFM produces high-resolution images under continuous current flow of the conductive structure at the membrane surface and provides some insight into the bulk conducting network in Nafion membranes. The correlation of conductivity with other mechanical properties, such as adhesion force, deformation and stiffness, were simultaneously measured with the current and provided an indication of subsurface phase separations and phase distribution at the surface of the membrane. The distribution of conductive pores at the surface was identified by the formation of water droplets. A comparison of nanostructure models with high-resolution current images is discussed in detail.
authors: University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstrasse 33, Esslingen 73728, Germany. renate.hiesgen@hs-esslingen.de.
authors: Renate
authors: R
authors: Hiesgen
authors: German Aerospace Center, Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, Stuttgart 70569, Germany. stefan.helmly@dlr.de.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Helmly
authors: University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstrasse 33, Esslingen 73728, Germany. ines.galm@hs-esslingen.de.
authors: Ines
authors: I
authors: Galm
authors: University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstrasse 33, Esslingen 73728, Germany. tobias.morawietz@hs-esslingen.de.
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Morawietz
authors: University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstrasse 33, Esslingen 73728, Germany. michael.handl@stud.hs-esslingen.de.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Handl
authors: German Aerospace Center, Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, Stuttgart 70569, Germany. stefan.helmly@dlr.de.
authors: K Andreas
authors: KA
authors: Friedrich