Ionomer thin films for fuel cells and related applications

用于燃料电池及相关应用的离聚物薄膜

基本信息

批准号：
RGPIN-2017-04856
负责人：
Karan, Kunal
金额：
$ 2.7万
依托单位：
University of Calgary
依托单位国家：
加拿大
项目类别：
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
加拿大
起止时间：
2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=711265
关键词：
Ionomer thin films fuel cells

项目摘要

Polymer thin films with dimensions less than one-thousands the size of human hair behave differently than their bulk material counterpart. Conducting polymers are sub-class of this material group and depending on the molecular architecture, they can be either electron-conducting or ion-conducting. Thin films of ion-conducting polymers or ionomers find a variety of applications, e.g. in fuel cells, artificial photosynthesis, sensors, actuators, and as functional coatings. The ionomer thin films in the catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have been identified as a source of significant performance/voltage loss due to unexpectedly high mass transport resistance. Overcoming this problem is now considered critical to making the PEFCs affordable, if we are to harness its potential as zero-emissions power source for urban vehicles. The answer to the problem is designing next generation ionomer materials that possess facile mass transport characteristics. However, the lack of relationship between ionomer molecular structure and its properties is hampering the design and development of such materials. In the proposed research will use a science-based approach for unraveling the origin of the mass transport resistance some advanced experimental techniques - one of which has only recently become available in whole of North America - the Positron Beam Facility at McMaster University, Canada. The long-term objective of the proposed research program is to guide the development of new ionomer molecules tuned for application-specific functionalities, e.g. in fuel cells, artificial photosynthesis, sensors, actuators, coatings, nanothin selective membranes. This will be achieved by establishing structure-property relationships of ionomer films, quantifying how the phase-segregated structure and resulting properties responds to pertinent stimuli (temperature, humidity, potential), and link it all to the molecular architecture of ionomer and its interactions with substrates varying in chemical/ physical characteristics. By studying a number of different ionomer varying in their molecular architecture, the research program will link the molecular architecture of the ionomers to the film structure-property. Such a knowledge currently does not exist. The fundamental knowledge created from the research program will provide science-based guidelines for the design of next-generation ionomer materials tuned for desirable functional properties; e.g. ionomers with high free volume, i.e. enhanced mass transport characteristics for PEFCs; ionomers with highly hydrophilic interfacial surface for facile sorption of polar molecules (e.g. alcohol) for sensor applications; ionomer films with hydrophobic surface for water-repellant protective coatings. Knowledge on substrate-ionomer interaction will benefit nanofabrication based on thin film platform.

尺寸的聚合物薄膜小于人类头发的大小的尺寸与散装材料的表现不同。导电聚合物是该材料组的子类，取决于分子结构，它们可以是电子传导或离子传导。离子传导聚合物或离子体的薄膜发现了多种应用，例如在燃料电池中，人工光合作用，传感器，执行器和功能涂层。由于出乎意料的高质量传输性，聚合物电解质燃料电池（PEFC）催化剂层中的离子薄膜已被确定为严重性能/电压损失的来源。现在，如果我们要利用其作为城市车辆的零排放电源来利用其潜力，那么克服这个问题对于使PEFC负担得起而被认为是至关重要的。该问题的答案是设计具有易于质量传输特征的下一代电离材料。但是，离子分子结构及其特性之间缺乏关系正在阻碍此类材料的设计和开发。在拟议的研究中，将采用基于科学的方法来揭示大规模运输抵抗的起源某些先进的实验技术 - 其中一种直到最近才在整个北美（整个北美）使用 - 加拿大麦克马斯特大学的Positron Beam设施。拟议的研究计划的长期目标是指导针对应用特定功能的新的离子分子的开发，例如在燃料电池中，人工光合作用，传感器，执行器，涂料，纳米蛋白选择性膜。这将通过建立离子体膜的结构 - 特性关系来实现，从而量化相分离的结构和产生的特性如何响应相关的刺激（温度，湿度，电位），并将其与离子体的分子结构联系起来，并将其与化学/物理特征中的底物相互作用及其相互作用。通过研究许多不同的离子体在其分子结构上有所不同，该研究程序将将离子体的分子结构与膜结构结构联系起来。这样的知识当前不存在。根据研究计划创建的基本知识将提供基于科学的指南，以设计为理想的功能属性调整的下一代电离材料的设计；例如自由体积高的离子体，即PEFC的增强的质量传输特性；具有高度亲水性界面表面的离子体，用于传感器应用的极性分子（例如酒精）的易于吸附；带有疏水表面的离子膜用于防水保护涂层。关于基材 - 离子体相互作用的知识将使基于薄膜平台的纳米制作受益。