POLYSOLVAT 16 at JCNS, Workshop 2026

Semicrystalline polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) play an important role in fuel cells and many other electrochemical devices. The desired PEM materials should have balanced properties of high conductivity and long-term operating stability in hydrated state. To advance PEMs development, it is crucial to consider not only the new molecular design, but also the creation of robust...

The spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria is largely driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics,1 with the aggravating factor of biofilm formation.2 Because the extracellular biofilm matrix acts as a protective barrier, treating these infections is highly challenging, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Lipid-based delivery systems are among the most widely used...

Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is of particular interest in the design of chemically stable membranes for use in harsh environments due to its high temperature thermal transitions, high crystallizability, mechanical strength, and low chemical reactivity. Recently, we have discovered that PEEK can be dissolved at elevated temperatures in a non-toxic, benign solvent, 1,3-diphenylacetone (DPA)....

Quantifying the hydration structure of ionomer membranes remains one of the central challenges in understanding the relationship between nanoscale morphology and proton transport in polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs). Although extensive studies using calorimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have established that water in Nafion...