RUI: Investigations of hydrogen ion solvation in acidic ionic liquids - approach to high proton conductivity in ionic liquid electrolytes

本项目由罗文大学化学系化学结构、动力学机制B项目资助，罗文大学化学与生物化学系余磊教授和Timothy Vaden教授将研究酸性离子液体溶液中氢离子的电离、溶剂化、输运和还原。 这些解决方案可用于燃料电池，因为它们可以提供高效，清洁和可再生能源，因此在化学和工程领域受到极大关注。 酸性离子液体溶液的应用可以潜在地改善燃料电池的高温性能，这在许多应用中是重要的。 研究计划与教育计划很好地结合在一起。 该项目将大量涉及本科生，高中生将被纳入夏季研究活动。 主要研究人员还计划为本科生开发电池和燃料电池课程。 全氟磺酸膜，由于其优异的热稳定性和化学稳定性、质子传导性和机械强度，被广泛用作燃料电池中的质子交换膜。 然而，Nafion只有在完全水合时才能提供高质子传导性。 在接近或高于100度的温度下，水的快速蒸发会导致质子传导率显著降低，通常导致电池失效。 然而，在约100 - 150度下工作是期望的，因为较高的温度减少催化剂中毒并增加燃料电池效率。 高质子传导率的离子液体可以提高质子交换膜的高温性能和使用寿命。 本计画将研究氢离子在离子液体中的溶剂化、传输及还原。 一系列的强酸和弱酸，如双（三氟甲磺酰基）酰亚胺，硼酸，磺酸，羧酸及其混合物在咪唑离子液体将使用电导率和粘度测量，振动光谱，量热法，电化学，和计算模拟研究。

In this project funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics & Mechanisms B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professors Lei Yu and Timothy Vaden of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Rowan University will study the hydrogen ion ionization, solvation, transportation, and reduction in acidic ionic liquid solutions. These solutions can be used in fuel cells, which receive significant attention in chemistry and engineering as they can provide efficient, clean, and renewable energy. The application of acidic ionic liquid solutions can potentially improve the high temperature performance of the fuel cells, which is important in many applications. The research plan is well integrated with an educational plan. The project will involve undergraduate students heavily and high school students will be included in summer research activities. The principal investigators also plan to develop curricula for undergraduate students on batteries and fuel cells. Nafion, a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, is widely used as the proton exchange membrane in fuel cells due to its excellent thermal and chemical stability, proton conductivity, and mechanical strength. However, Nafion provides high proton conductivity only when it is fully hydrated. At temperatures close to or above 100 degree, fast water evaporation results in significant reduction of proton conductivity, usually ending in cell failure. However, working at around 100 - 150 degree is desirable because higher temperature reduces catalyst poisoning and increases fuel cell efficiency. Ionic liquids with high proton conductivity could improve the high temperature performance and life span of the proton exchange membrane. In this project, hydrogen ion solvation, transportation, and reduction in ionic liquids will be studied. A series of strong and weak acids such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, boric acid, sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids and their mixtures in imidazolium ionic liquids will be investigated using conductivity and viscosity measurements, vibrational spectroscopy, calorimetry, electrochemistry, and computational simulation.