Manufacture of Controlled Microstructure Proton Exchange Membranes

2004年，全球政府在燃料电池和氢基础设施方面的支出超过15亿美元，据估计，到2007年，燃料电池系统的世界市场将增长10倍，到2012年达到每年126亿美元。尽管燃料电池技术在过去十年中取得了进展，但实现商业化燃料电池发电的主要障碍仍然存在。现代燃料电池的主要缺点之一是质子交换膜(PEM)，它作为质子转移的电解液和分离器，防止燃料(如氢、甲醇)和阳极和阴极的氧直接物理混合。本研究的目的是研究使用溶液和熔融加工来控制多组分、多相聚合物体系的PEM微观结构，并了解受控微结构对PEM的传输和力学性能的影响。将研究的聚合物体系包括聚合物共混物、嵌段共聚物和聚合物纳米复合材料。将开发制造薄膜的方法，并同时利用外部电场和磁场将导电相定向到质子传输方向。使用多组分/多相系统将允许分离传输和机械性能，这是当前PEM技术中的主要问题。膜在实际燃料电池环境中的性能将在园区内的燃料电池中心进行评估，该中心配备了制造膜电极组件(MEA)和燃料电池测试站的设施。预计该计划将产生新的成果，这些成果将发表在科学期刊上，并在国家科学会议上公布。此外，该项目还将培训学生学习聚合物膜制造和燃料电池技术。本科生将在学年期间通过自主学习或以REU学生的身份参加。代表不足的少数族裔学生和妇女将特别成为参与该项目的目标。将开发一个关于燃料电池技术的讲座和示范教学模块，并向高中和以本科为主的大学的学生和教职员工提供。还将与以本科为主的机构的科学和工程教师建立研究合作关系。工业界将通过IMS伙伴计划接触到研究结果，该计划是康涅狄格大学材料科学研究所的一个工业推广计划。

Worldwide government spending for fuel cell and hydrogen infrastructure surpassed $1.5B in 2004, and it is estimated that world markets for fuel cells systems will grow tenfold by 2007 and reach $12.6 billion per year by 2012. Despite the gains that have been made in fuel cell technology over the last decade, major barriers to implementation of commercial fuel cell generation remain. One of the key shortcomings of contemporary fuel cells is the proton exchange membrane (PEM), which serves as the electrolyte for proton transfer and as the separator to prevent direct physical mixing of the fuel (e.g., hydrogen, methanol) and the oxygen at the anode and cathode. The objective of this research effort is to investigate the use of solution and melt processing to control the PEM microstructure of multicomponent, multiphase polymer systems and to understand the effect of the controlled microstructure on the transport and mechanical properties of the PEMs. The polymer systems that will be investigated include polymer blends, block copolymers and polymer nanocomposites. Methods will be developed for manufacturing membranes and simultaneously orienting the conductive phase in the direction of proton transport using external electrical and magnetic fields. Use of a multicomponent/multiphase system will allow one to decouple the transport and mechanical properties, which is a major problem in current PEM technology. Performance of the membranes in an actual fuel cell environment will be evaluated at an on-campus fuel cell center, equipped with facilities for manufacturing membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and fuel cell test stations. The program is fully expected to produce novel results that will be published in scientific journals and presented at national scientific meetings. As well, this program will train students in polymer membrane manufacturing and fuel cell technology. Undergraduate students will participate either through independent studies during the academic year or as REU students. Under-represented minority students and women will be especially targeted for involvement in the project. A lecture and demonstration teaching module about fuel cell technology will be developed and offered to students and faculty at high schools and primarily-undergraduate colleges. Research collaborations will also be established with science and engineering faculty at primarily-undergraduate institutions. Industry will be exposed to the results of the research through the IMS Associates Program, an industrial outreach program in the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut.