Hydrogen proton exchange barriers

Now that technologies to use hydrogen as a clean fuel are readily available, like the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), and can be developed at an industrial scale, research mainly focuses on the barrier of development which is hydrogen storage for delayed use. In fact, if nowadays the H2 production methods are well known and controlled, the storage and transportation of the fuel remain major obstacles to its use [3]. 

This situation applies with weak hydrogen bonds at one extreme and very strong hydrogen bonds at the other with H and D confined to the same potential well. However, when the potential energy barrier has fallen sufficiently to allow the proton to escape the confines of its parent well, but leaves the deuteron trapped, then different values of the isotopic ratio can be observed (Fig. 7). The effect of isotopic exchange is now much more than merely one of doubling the reduced mass of the vibrating bond. When the proton is above the barrier, the force constant of the A—H bond, k A.—H),... 

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