Sensitivity of Nafion Films to Organic Substances, Especially Ketones

Figure 1

The carbonyl group of acetone protonates in an acid medium, leaving an electronic hole in the Nafion, which increases its conductivity. Equation (1) is the chemical structure of the Nafion that in the proposed system functions as an acid catalyst. Eq. 2 is the general reaction of acetone together with ambient water to form a diol by means of acid catalyzation produced by Nafion.