Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.14294/WATER.2024.5

Publication Title

Water: A Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Volume

14

Pages

35-58

Abstract

In this review in relation to some interesting arguments from Silverstein, it is now reaffirmed that the experimental demonstration of transmembrane-electrostatically localized protons (TELPs) was successfully accomplished through 1) using an aluminum film as a TELPs sensor in a biomimetic anode water-membrane-water cathode system, 2) analyzing the water-electrolysis current curve, and 3) measuring bulk liquid phase pH. Formation of induced TELPs was subsequently discovered in an anode water-membrane-water-membrane-water cathode system. The discovery of induced TELPs enabled clean experimental tests on the cation-TELPs exchange process by using sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate solution in the central liquid chamber. The sodium/TELPs exchange equilibrium constant ΚπΝα+ was determined to be (5.07 ± 0.97) x 10-⁸. The potassium/TELPs exchange equilibrium constant ΚπΚ+ was determined to be (6.93 ± 1.23) x 10-⁸. The analysis in this review affirmed that the experimental TELPs demonstration and the experimentally determined cation-TELPs exchange equilibrium constant values are valid. Silverstein’s arguments appear to have stemmed largely from his own misunderstanding, such as his misconception on the aluminum film protonic sensing limit.

Rights

© 2025 Water Journal. All Rights Reserved.

Included with the kind written permission of the copyright holders and the author.

Data Availability

Article states: "All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article and in the cited references."

Original Publication Citation

Lee, J. W. (2025). Experimental demonstration and study of transmembrane-electrostatically localized protons prevail. Water: A Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 14, 35-58. https://doi.org/10.14294/WATER.2024.5

ORCID

0000-0003-2525-5870 (Lee)

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