Silica Nanopores Surface-Modified with Ionomer Brushes

在这个由化学部门的大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，犹他大学的Ilya Zharov将制备和研究新型纳米结构的质子和锂导电膜，其中有序的无机纳米孔被带有酸性和/或碱性官能团的定义明确的聚合物分子表面修饰。具有连续纳米孔网络的高度有序无机材料将被研究为二氧化硅胶体晶体、逆二氧化硅胶体晶体和二氧化硅涂层阳极氧化氧化铝。它们将作为固体基质提供机械稳定性和支持质子和离子导电聚合物。这些膜的结构使它们特别适合于系统研究，需要了解离子在密闭空间内通过聚合物刷的传输。将确定不同几何形状的纳米孔和无机纳米孔内由表面引发的活性聚合制备的聚合物刷结构的结构-性能关系。更广泛的影响包括研究生和本科生的跨学科培训，招募化学科学领域代表性不足的群体参与研究项目，并通过犹他州自然历史博物馆的青年教学青年（YTY）计划向当地小学、初中和高中推广。实际上，质子导电膜和锂导电膜分别是燃料电池和电池的关键组成部分，将被研究的膜具有与传统的聚电解质或有机无机复合膜根本不同的独特特征。因此，这项研究虽然本质上是基础性的，但有可能导致能源技术的突破。

In this project, funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Ilya Zharov of the University of Utah will prepare and investigate novel nanostructured proton- and lithium-conducting membranes, in which ordered inorganic nanopores are surface-modified with well-defined polymer molecules carrying acidic and/or basic functional groups. The highly ordered inorganic materials displaying continuous networks of nanopores that will be investigated are silica colloidal crystals, inverse silica colloidal crystals and silica-coated anodized alumina. They will serve as solid matrixes providing mechanical stability and supporting the proton- and ion-conducting polymers. The architecture of these membranes makes them particularly suitable for systematic studies needed to understand the ion transport through polymer brushes inside confined spaces. Structure-property relationships will be determined for nanopores of different geometry and for polymer brush architectures prepared by surface-initiated living polymerization inside the inorganic nanopores. The broader impacts involve interdisciplinary training of graduate and undergraduate students, recruitment of underrepresented groups in chemical sciences to participate in the research project, and outreach to local elementary, middle and high schools through the Natural History Museum of Utah's Youth Teaching Youth (YTY) program.In practical terms, proton- and lithium-conducting membranes are key components of fuel cells and batteries, respectively, and the membranes that will be investigated possess unique features that are fundamentally different from the traditional polyelectrolyte or composite organic-inorganic membranes. Therefore, this research, although fundamental in nature, has the potential to lead to breakthroughs in energy technology.