RUI: Investigations of hydrogen ion solvation in acidic ionic liquids - approach to high proton conductivity in ionic liquid electrolytes

在这个由化学系化学结构、动力学和机理B计划资助的项目中，罗文大学化学和生物化学系的雷宇教授和蒂莫西·瓦登教授将研究酸性离子液体溶液中的氢离子电离、溶剂化、输运和还原。这些解决方案可以用于燃料电池，因为它们可以提供高效、清洁和可再生的能源，因此在化学和工程领域受到极大的关注。酸性离子液体溶液的应用可以潜在地改善燃料电池的高温性能，这在许多应用中都是重要的。研究计划与教育计划很好地结合在一起。该项目将吸引大量本科生参与，高中生将被纳入暑期研究活动。主要研究人员还计划为本科生开发关于电池和燃料电池的课程。Nafion是一种全氟磺酸膜，因其良好的热稳定性、化学稳定性、质子导电性和机械强度而被广泛用作燃料电池的质子交换膜。然而，Nafion只有在完全水合的情况下才能提供高的质子传导性。在接近或高于100摄氏度的温度下，水的快速蒸发会导致质子传导性显著降低，通常会导致电池失效。然而，在100-150度左右工作是可取的，因为更高的温度减少了催化剂中毒并提高了燃料电池的效率。具有高质子电导率的离子液体可以改善质子交换膜的高温性能和寿命。在这个项目中，将研究氢离子在离子液体中的溶剂化、输运和还原。用电导率和粘度测量、振动光谱、量热、电化学和计算机模拟等方法研究了双(三氟甲磺酰亚胺)、硼酸、磺酸、羧酸及其混合物等一系列强酸和弱酸在咪唑离子液体中的作用。

In this project funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics & Mechanisms B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professors Lei Yu and Timothy Vaden of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Rowan University will study the hydrogen ion ionization, solvation, transportation, and reduction in acidic ionic liquid solutions. These solutions can be used in fuel cells, which receive significant attention in chemistry and engineering as they can provide efficient, clean, and renewable energy. The application of acidic ionic liquid solutions can potentially improve the high temperature performance of the fuel cells, which is important in many applications. The research plan is well integrated with an educational plan. The project will involve undergraduate students heavily and high school students will be included in summer research activities. The principal investigators also plan to develop curricula for undergraduate students on batteries and fuel cells. Nafion, a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane, is widely used as the proton exchange membrane in fuel cells due to its excellent thermal and chemical stability, proton conductivity, and mechanical strength. However, Nafion provides high proton conductivity only when it is fully hydrated. At temperatures close to or above 100 degree, fast water evaporation results in significant reduction of proton conductivity, usually ending in cell failure. However, working at around 100 - 150 degree is desirable because higher temperature reduces catalyst poisoning and increases fuel cell efficiency. Ionic liquids with high proton conductivity could improve the high temperature performance and life span of the proton exchange membrane. In this project, hydrogen ion solvation, transportation, and reduction in ionic liquids will be studied. A series of strong and weak acids such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, boric acid, sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids and their mixtures in imidazolium ionic liquids will be investigated using conductivity and viscosity measurements, vibrational spectroscopy, calorimetry, electrochemistry, and computational simulation.