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

技术摘要本职业项目的目标是通过开发一类新型聚合物电解质材料来建立一个跨学科的材料研究和教育计划，这些材料将用于燃料电池应用。尽管质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）被吹捧为高效、可靠和环境友好的能源，但这种有前途的技术的广泛使用受到可以克服当前最先进的质子交换膜（PEM）Nafion的缺点的聚合物电解质材料的开发不足的限制。为了制备在燃料电池运行中性能优于Nafion的新型PEM材料，内华达州拉斯维加斯大学化学系的Chulsung Bae教授将（a）开发一种新的PEM合成策略，该策略同时利用部分氟化离聚物和芳香族主链聚合物，（B）对聚合物结构和膜性能之间的关系进行系统研究。这种方法将产生比通常在目前可用的芳族聚合物离聚物中发现的芳基磺酸强得多的磺酸基团，并产生多种结构的PEM，其可以允许更好地理解分子水平结构性质关系。由于燃料电池研究计划的多学科性质，在这个职业生涯项目下工作的学生将接触到与合成化学，材料表征和工程专家的互动，从而获得对重大研究项目的多个方面的赞赏，以及研究生研究和未来职业生涯的许多潜在途径。非技术概述燃料电池将储存在燃料中的化学能直接转化为电能，预计将成为满足21世纪能源需求的关键技术。这个CAREER项目的目标是将化学和材料科学/工程的不同领域联合收割机结合起来，创造新材料，提供对材料性质的分子水平的洞察，并在全球商业可行的燃料电池技术的发展中发挥关键作用。由于燃料电池研究的令人兴奋和多学科性质，该CAREER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方案基础做出贡献。研究生培训、研究生对本科生研究助理的指导、课堂演示，并为学生创造一个学术/私营行业伙伴关系，作为一个可能的职业道路。除了基础研究和学生教育计划外，在PI的燃料电池研究与公众对全球气候变化的日益关注和对清洁替代能源生产的逐渐渴望之间建立桥梁，将提高科学素养，扩大这项研究对社会的影响。

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.