Sub-micron dielectric spectroscopy of composite polymer membranes and interfaces for alternative energy applications

替代能源设备的最新发展包括用于生产氢气的太阳能收集设备和氢燃料电池的新设计的开发。这些新技术代表了替代能源，可以帮助加拿大和更广泛的经济/社会满足未来的能源需求，并有可能减少对化石燃料的依赖。在这两种情况下，复合聚合物膜和复合材料中的界面在这些新材料的整体性能中起着关键作用。这些材料的功能和结构依赖于起源于亚微米长度尺度的特性，即小于人类头发直径的1%。基于介电光谱和椭偏测量的阻抗分析仪的传统表征技术无法达到正确表征这些新材料所需的空间分辨率。 有了这笔赠款，申请者将开发一种扫描探针显微镜，能够以远低于微米的空间分辨率执行介电光谱，范围为人类头发直径的0.1%。这项技术将用于开发和改进用于收集太阳能和产生氢气的人工光合作用装置的膜材料，以及评估将太阳能转换为电能的有机光伏的新材料和设计。 这项技术的进一步应用将是评估被提议用于高压电缆绝缘的纳米填料的性能。这些新型复合材料有可能在保护电力传输基础设施投资方面发挥重要作用。 这项研究的跨学科和协作性质将为学生提供一个令人兴奋和有益的环境，让他们在从事具有实践和科学意义的项目时发展自己的技能。

Recent developments in alternative energy devices include solar energy harvesting devices for the production of hydrogen and the development of new designs for hydrogen fuel cells. These new technologies represent energy alternatives that can help the Canadian and wider economy/society meet future energy demands and, potentially, reduce fossil-fuel dependence. In both cases, composite polymer membranes and the interfaces within composite materials play a critical role in the overall performance of these new materials. The functionality and structure of these materials relies on properties that originate at sub-micron length scales, i.e. less than 1% of the diameter of a human hair. Conventional characterization techniques based on the use of impedance analyzers for dielectric spectroscopy and ellipsometry are unable to approach the spatial resolution demanded for proper characterization of these new materials. With this grant, the applicant will develop a form of scanning probe microscopy that is capable of performing dielectric spectroscopy with spatial resolution significantly less than a micrometer, in the range of 0.1% of the diameter of a human hair. This technique will be used to develop and improve membrane materials for artificial photosynthesis devices for harvesting solar energy and generating hydrogen as well as evaluating new materials and designs for organic photovoltaics that convert sunlight to electricity. A further application of this technique will be to evaluate the performance of nanofillers proposed for use in high voltage cable insulation. These new composite materials have the potential to play an important role in safeguarding the investments made in power transmission infrastructure. The interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of this research will provide an exciting and rewarding environment for students to develop their skills while working on projects of practical and scientific importance.