US Egypt Cooperative Research: Syntheses of Hyperbranched Copolymers on Novel Nanostructures for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Applications

与具有有限容量的预存储能量的电池不同，燃料电池通过电化学反应连续产生电力。燃料电池，特别是质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC），对于汽车和小型家用应用非常有用。理想情况下，这些燃料电池由于其高功率密度而可以相对紧凑，并且可能取代可充电电池。此外，它们可以在相对较低的温度下运行，从而实现快速冷启动。然而，目前的PEMFC技术还没有产生热稳定、有效的质子交换膜。该提案的主要目的是使用低成本的陶瓷纳米纤维合成新型聚合物复合膜。为了实现这些目标，PI将与埃及吉萨国家研究中心的莫纳阿卜杜勒·雷希姆合作。拟议的工作旨在通过整合两个研究团队的专业知识，在应用纳米材料聚合物复合材料领域进行持续合作，生产高耐受性和多功能的PEM，以推进未来的PEMFC。这项工作解决了一个成功的和有效的质子交换膜的发展，这是一个最大的障碍，广泛的商业使用的燃料电池的汽车应用。在最近的过去，有限的成功开发这种膜是使用超支化聚合物。 这项工作采用了一种创新的方法，使用纳米纤维来增加膜的强度和稳定性，这可能会产生成功的结果。 更广泛的影响。拟议的工作建立在美国和埃及科学家在纳米复合材料开发方面的多年互动和研究合作的基础上。该项目将提供一个机会，以进一步这种合作，并开发新的材料，可能是有效的提高燃料电池的效率。在埃及方面的支持下，埃及早期职业科学家和学生将在阿肯色州大学接受培训。对于美国年轻的科学家和学生，该项目将提供科学和文化交流的机会，以及获得国际研究经验的机会。项目成果将通过出版物和在国家和国际会议上的介绍加以传播。此外，该项目将为美国和埃及的初级科学家提供一个机会，通过为K-12科学课程开发实践活动来参与教育推广。该项目由美国-埃及联合基金计划资助，该计划为两国的科学家和工程师提供赠款，以进行合作研究。

Unlike batteries with a limited capacity of pre-stored energy, fuel cells continuously produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cells, specifically proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), are highly useful for automotive and small domestic applications. Ideally, these fuel cells can be relatively compact due to their high power density and could presumably replace rechargeable batteries. In addition, they could be operated at a relatively low temperature enabling rapid cold start up. However, current PEMFC technologies have not yielded a thermally stable, efficient proton exchange membrane. The main objective of this proposal is to synthesize a novel polymer-composite membrane using low-cost ceramic nanofibers. To achieve these goals, the PI will collaborate with Mona Abdel Rehim from the National Research Center in Giza, Egypt. The proposed work aims to produce highly tolerant and multifunctional PEM for advancing future PEMFC by integrating the expertise of the two research teams with a continuous collaboration in the field of applied nanomaterial-polymer composites.Intellectual Merit. This work addresses the development of a successful and efficient proton exchange membrane, which is one of the biggest barriers to widespread commercial use of fuel cells for automotive applications. In the recent past, limited success of developing this membrane was achieved using hyperbranched polymers. This work employs an innovative approach using nanofibers to increase the strength and stability of the membrane, which may produce successful results. Broader Impacts. The proposed work builds on several years of interactions and research collaboration between US and Egyptian scientists on the development of nanocomposite materials. This project will provide an opportunity to further this collaboration and to develop new materials that may be effective in improving the efficiency of fuel cells. Early career Egyptian scientists and students will be trained at the University of Arkansas with support from the Egyptian side. For US junior scientists and students, this project will provide opportunities for scientific and cultural exchange, as well as a chance to obtain an international research experience. Project results will be disseminated by publications and presentations at national and international meetings. In addition, this project will provide the US and Egyptian junior scientists an opportunity to engage in education outreach by developing hands-on activities for K-12 science classes. The project is funded under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program, which provides grants to scientists and engineers in both countries to undertake cooperative research.