ハイブリッド多層構造の設計と特性評価：ポリマーおよびグラフェン酸化物アセンブリの層別成長と燃料電池への応用

We report the layer-by-layer growth of poly-(ethylenimine) (PEI) that has been modified with sulfamate functionalities (S-PEI) using Zr⁴⁺-complexation interlayer linking chemistry. We have also deposited adlayers of graphene oxide (GO) that have been modified to possess sulfate functionalities (S-GO), onto the S-PEI layers. The multilayer assemblies are formed with sulfamate/sulfate and sulfate/sulfate (S-PEI + S-GO) interlayer linking chemistry. In all cases the adlayer thickness is consistent with predictions based on van der Waals volume and/or molecular mechanics calculations. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to characterize the Zr/S stoichiometry in the multilayer assembly. The utility of these hybrid multilayer structures is demonstrated in a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, where they are shown to reduce H₂ gas crossover by 15% with only a 12 nm thick layer.