CAREER: Development of Novel Polymer Electrolytes - Synthesis and Applications in Fuel Cells

职业：新型聚合物电解质的开发——合成及其在燃料电池中的应用

• 批准号: 1261331
• 负责人: Chulsung Bae
• 金额: $ 27.09万
• 依托单位: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2014-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1261331&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Development; Novel; Polymer; Electrolytes

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe goal of this CAREER project is to build an interdisciplinary materials research and educational program by developing a novel class of polymer electrolyte materials that will be useful for fuel cell applications. Although proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are touted as efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy sources, broad use of this promising technology has been limited by insufficient development of polymer electrolyte materials that can overcome the shortcomings of Nafion, the current state-of-the-art proton exchange membrane (PEM). To prepare new PEM materials that can outperform Nafion in fuel cell operation, Professor Chulsung Bae of the Department of Chemistry at University of Nevada Las Vegas will (a) develop a new synthetic strategy of PEMs that take advantages of both partially fluorinated ionomers and aromatic main-chain polymers, and (b) carry out a systematic study of the relationship between polymer structure and membrane properties. This approach will generate a sulfonic acid group that is much stronger than the aryl sulfonic acid typically found in currently available aromatic polymer ionomers, and create PEMs of a diverse range of structures that can allow better understanding of the molecular-level structure property relationships. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of fuel cell research program, students working under this CAREER project will be exposed to interactions with experts in synthetic chemistry, materials characterization, and engineering and thus be given an appreciation of the multiple aspects of a major research undertaking and the many potential paths available for graduate research and future careers. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYFuel cells, which convert the chemical energies stored in fuel directly into electrical energy, are expected to be a key technology for meeting energy needs in the twenty-first century. The goal of this CAREER project is to combine different fields of chemistry and materials science/engineering and create novel materials that will provide molecular-level insight into material property and play a key role in the development of commercially viable fuel cell technologies globally. Owing to the exciting and multidisciplinary nature of fuel cell research, this CAREER project will attract participants from a wide range of areas, contribute to the infrastructure and programmatic basis for research and education opportunitiese.g., graduate student training, graduate mentoring of undergraduate research assistants, classroom demonstrationsand create an academic/private industry partnership as a possible career path for students. In addition to basic research and education programs for students, building a bridge between the PI's fuel cell research and the general public's increasing concern about global climate change and gradual desire for clean alternative energy production will enhance scientific literacy, broadening the impact of this research on the society.

技术摘要该职业项目的目标是通过开发一类可用于燃料电池应用的新型聚合物电解质材料来建立跨学科材料研究和教育计划。尽管质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）被誉为高效、可靠和环保的能源，但由于能够克服当前最先进的质子交换膜（PEM）Nafion缺点的聚合物电解质材料的开发不足，限制了这项有前途的技术的广泛使用。为了制备在燃料电池运行中性能优于 Nafion 的新型 PEM 材料，内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校化学系的 Chulsung Bae 教授将（a）开发一种新的 PEM 合成策略，利用部分氟化离聚物和芳香族主链聚合物的优点，以及（b）对聚合物结构和膜性能之间的关系进行系统研究。这种方法将生成比目前可用的芳香族聚合物离聚物中常见的芳基磺酸强得多的磺酸基团，并创建各种结构的质子交换膜，从而可以更好地理解分子水平的结构性质关系。由于燃料电池研究项目的多学科性质，在该职业项目下工作的学生将有机会与合成化学、材料表征和工程方面的专家进行互动，从而了解一项重大研究工作的多个方面以及研究生研究和未来职业的许多潜在途径。非技术概要燃料电池将储存在燃料中的化学能直接转化为电能，预计将成为二十一世纪满足能源需求的关键技术。该职业项目的目标是将化学和材料科学/工程的不同领域结合起来，创造出新型材料，这些材料将提供对材料特性的分子水平洞察，并在全球商业上可行的燃料电池技术的开发中发挥关键作用。由于燃料电池研究令人兴奋的多学科性质，该职业项目将吸引来自广泛领域的参与者，为研究和教育机会的基础设施和计划基础做出贡献，例如研究生培训、本科生研究助理的研究生指导、课堂演示，并创建学术/私营行业合作伙伴关系作为学生可能的职业道路。除了为学生提供基础研究和教育项目外，在PI的燃料电池研究和公众对全球气候变化日益关注以及对清洁替代能源生产的逐渐渴望之间架起一座桥梁，将提高科学素养，扩大这项研究对社会的影响。