Collaborative Project 1: Using a Biological Proton Transporter to Build a Proton Exchange Membrane    
Jeanne Hardy (Chemistry) and S. Thayumanavan (Chemistry)                                            

A central problem in the development of hydrogen fuel cells is the ability to routinely and reproducibly transport protons selectively across a unidirectional proton exchange membrane. This REU project is working toward building a stable membrane that selectively transports protons generated in a fuel cell using a biological proton-transporting protein. Students working on this project will work in the Hardy lab to engineer the proton-transporting protein so that it can be covalently incorporated into a solid support that will work in a hydrogen fuel cell.

Synthetic method for incorporating proteins onto polymers: An REU student in Thayumanavan’s group will synthesize and characterize polymers that incorporate components that allow for attachment of the protein, then develop methods for incorporating a model protein into the polymer.

Modification of proteins for membrane integration: An REU student in Hardy’s group will use site-directed mutagenesis, protein over-expression and chromatography to make and purify the proton transporters.

Collaborative effort: The two REU students will work together to incorporate the proton transport proteins into the polymer membranes and characterize the resulting material. Proton conduction will be measured.

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