NER: Synthesis and Modeling of Novel Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Nanoporous Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

CBET -0708368 Ilya Zharov乌塔那大学：新型混合有机-无机纳米多孔膜的合成和建模燃料电池应用全球许多研究兴趣都集中在燃料电池电源的开发上，用于各种应用，特别是交通运输。质子传导膜在将质子从阳极传导到阴极的同时分离燃料，是燃料电池的关键部件。为了有效操作，膜需要具有高质子传导性、低电子传导性、良好的机械性能以及热和电化学稳定性。找到这样的材料已被证明是有问题的。该项目旨在通过实验和建模研究的结合来克服当前燃料电池膜的局限性，为一类新的膜材料提供概念验证：混合有机/无机纳米多孔蛋白石膜，其中合成蛋白石通过自组装在溶液中从二氧化硅纳米球形成含有有序纳米孔阵列的无机基质。质子传导通过用携带酸性官能团的有机分子对纳米孔表面改性来实现。所提出的新型膜的优点包括：（1）从溶液自组装;（2）具有受控尺寸的高度有序的纳米孔阵列;以及（3）允许多种表面化学的潜力。膜的无机基质提供机械稳定性，并且高质子传导由表面结合的有机分子提供。除了合成和测试这种膜的特性的实验外，还将进行纳米孔内分子结构和形态的多尺度建模研究。一名研究生和几名本科生将参与研究，并计划开展公共宣传活动。

CBET - 0708368Ilya ZharovUniversity of UtahNER: Synthesis and Modeling of Novel Hybrid Organic-InorganicNanoporous Membranes for Fuel Cell ApplicationMuch research interest globally is centered on the development of fuel cell power sources for a variety of applications with special emphasis on transportation. The proton-conducting membrane that separates fuels while conducting protons from the anode to the cathode is a key component of fuel cells. For efficient operation, the membrane needs to have high proton conductivity, low electronic conductivity, good mechanical properties, and thermal and electrochemical stability. Finding such materials has proven to be problematic. This project seeks to overcome the limitations of current fuel-cell membranes by a combination of experimental and modeling studies to provide proof-of-concept for a new class of membrane materials: hybrid organic/inorganic nanoporous opal membranes, in which synthetic opals produced by self-assembly in solution from silica nanospheres form an inorganic matrix containing ordered arrays of nanopores. Proton conduction is achieved through nanopore surface modification with organic molecules carrying acidic functional groups. Advantages of proposed novel membranes include: (1) self-assembly from solution; (2) highly ordered arrays of nanopores with controlled sizes; and (3) potential to allow a large variety of surface chemistries. The inorganic matrix of the membranes provides mechanical stability, and high proton conduction is provided by the surface-bound organic molecules. In addition to experiments to synthesize and test the characteristics of such membranes, multiscale modeling study of molecular structure and morphology inside the nanopores will be conducted. A graduate student and several undergraduates will be involved in the research, and public outreach activities are planned.