CAREER: SusChEM: Synthesis and Characterization of Disulfonated Poly(arylene ether sulfone 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) Hybrid Copolymers

非技术性：这个职业项目的目标是开发用于燃料电池应用的新型膜材料，并通过适当的课程和实验室经验将这一研究整合到聚合物教育中。该项目的研究和教育计划将通过以下方式实现：1)设计和制备用于电荷传输的新型燃料电池膜；2)评估新材料的性能和性能；3)对材料进行改性以改善其性能；4)通过为一年级学生设计《聚合物化学导论：普通化学概念》讲座和实验课程，将聚合物化学与普通化学概念相结合。这项拟议的研究通过引入这门课程显著提高了菲斯克大学目前和未来在聚合物科学方面的研究能力，这门课程深深地嵌入了这项提议的研究目标，但足够简单，足以引起学生的兴趣和学习。此外，拟议的为期两个学期的聚合物入门课程/基于探究的实验体验，是学生选择的传统普通化学的替代方案，将有助于提高本科生的学习和研究技能。从大一开始引入正宗研究也将增加STEM(科学/技术/工程/数学)本科生(包括未被充分代表的少数族裔)的留存率，并增加STEM职业生涯中未被充分代表的人才的渠道。技术：拟议研究的目标是通过在聚合物主链中引入后修饰单元2，4，6-三氯-1，3，5-三嗪(TT)来合成二磺化聚芳醚砜S(PAES)的杂化共聚物。这种方法的意义在于，通过使用不同和不同的结构/功能特征来调节共聚物主链的微结构，可以设计燃料电池质子交换膜的性能，以精确地定制性能。通过优化合成步骤，制备了二磺化聚芳醚砜-2，4，6-三氯-1，3，5-三嗪(PAES-TT)杂化共聚物。随后，将制备PAES-TT膜并对其进行表征，以评估其在质子交换膜燃料电池应用中的结构-性能关系和性能。这项提议的教育部分集中在为一年级学生开发一门名为《聚合物化学导论：化学一般概念》的讲座和实验课，以此作为将学生的研究经验纳入常规学年课程的一种手段。让学生接触研究，指导学生，扩大代表不足的群体对科学的参与，以及为STEM职业增加代表不足的人才的渠道，这些都是该项目更广泛影响的其他主要组成部分。

NON-TECHNICAL:The objective of this CAREER project is to develop novel membrane materials for fuel cell applications and integrate this research into polymer education through appropriate courses and laboratory experiences. The research and education plan for this project will be achieved by: 1) Designing and preparing new fuel cell membranes for transport of electric charges; 2) Evaluating the properties and performance of the novel materials; 3) Modifying the materials to improve their properties; and 4) Merging polymer chemistry with general chemistry concepts by designing an "Introduction to Polymer Chemistry: General Chemistry Concepts" lecture and lab course for freshman students. The proposed research significantly enhances Fisk University's current and future research capabilities in polymer science through the introduction of this course that is deeply imbedded in the research objectives of this proposal, but simple enough to arouse student's interest and learning. Furthermore, the proposed two-semester introductory polymer course/inquiry-based lab experience, which is a student-selected alternative to traditional General Chemistry, will facilitate the enhancement of learning and research skills for undergraduate students. Introduction of authentic research beginning in the freshman year should also increase the retention of undergraduates (including underrepresented minorities) in STEM (science/technology/engineering/mathematics) and increase the pipeline of underrepresented talent for STEM careers.TECHNICAL:The objective of the proposed research is to synthesize hybrid copolymers of disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (PAESs) by incorporating a post-modifiable unit, 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (TT), into the polymer backbone. The significance of this approach is that the properties of the proton exchange membrane for fuel cells could be engineered for precisely tailored performance by tuning the microstructure of the copolymer backbone using varying and distinct structural/functional features. The disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone- 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) (PAES-TT) hybrid copolymers will be prepared to form linear, high molecular-weight materials after optimizing the required synthetic steps. Subsequently, PAES-TT membranes will be prepared and characterized to evaluate their structure-property relationships and performance in proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell applications. The educational component of this proposal is centered on developing an "Introduction to Polymer Chemistry: General Chemistry Concepts" lecture and lab course for freshman students as a means to incorporate student research experiences into the regular academic-year curriculum. Exposure of students to research, mentoring of students, broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science, and increasing the pipeline of underrepresented talent for STEM careers are other major components of the broader impacts of this project.