CAREER: SusChEM: Synthesis and Characterization of Disulfonated Poly(arylene ether sulfone 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) Hybrid Copolymers

非技术：这个职业项目的目标是开发用于燃料电池应用的新型膜材料，并通过适当的课程和实验室经验将这项研究整合到聚合物教育中。该项目的研究和教育计划将通过以下方式实现：1）设计和制备用于电荷传输的新燃料电池膜; 2）评估新材料的性质和性能; 3）对材料进行改性以改善其性质;以及4）通过设计“高分子化学导论：一般化学概念”讲座及实验课程。拟议的研究显着提高了菲斯克大学的当前和未来的研究能力，在聚合物科学通过引入这门课程是深深嵌入在本提案的研究目标，但简单到足以引起学生的兴趣和学习。 此外，拟议的两个学期的介绍性聚合物课程/基于探究的实验室经验，这是学生选择的替代传统的普通化学，将有利于提高本科生的学习和研究技能。在大一开始的真实研究的介绍也应该增加本科生（包括代表性不足的少数民族）在STEM（科学/技术/工程/数学）的保留，并增加代表性不足的人才的管道STEM careers.Technical：拟议的研究的目的是合成混合共聚物的二磺化聚（亚芳基醚砜）s（PAESs）通过将后改性单元，2，4，6-三氯-1，3，5-三嗪（TT），到聚合物的骨干。 这种方法的意义在于，用于燃料电池的质子交换膜的性质可以通过使用不同的和不同的结构/功能特征来调整共聚物主链的微观结构而被设计用于精确定制的性能。 通过优化合成步骤，制备了聚芳醚砜-2，4，6-三氯-1，3，5-三嗪（PAES-TT）杂化共聚物。 随后，PAES-TT膜将被制备和表征，以评估它们的结构-性能关系和在质子交换膜燃料电池应用中的性能。 该提案的教育部分集中在为大一学生开发“高分子化学导论：一般化学概念”讲座和实验室课程，作为将学生研究经验纳入常规学年课程的一种手段。 让学生接触研究，指导学生，扩大科学中代表性不足的群体的参与，以及增加STEM职业中代表性不足的人才的渠道，是该项目更广泛影响的其他主要组成部分。

NON-TECHNICAL:The objective of this CAREER project is to develop novel membrane materials for fuel cell applications and integrate this research into polymer education through appropriate courses and laboratory experiences. The research and education plan for this project will be achieved by: 1) Designing and preparing new fuel cell membranes for transport of electric charges; 2) Evaluating the properties and performance of the novel materials; 3) Modifying the materials to improve their properties; and 4) Merging polymer chemistry with general chemistry concepts by designing an "Introduction to Polymer Chemistry: General Chemistry Concepts" lecture and lab course for freshman students. The proposed research significantly enhances Fisk University's current and future research capabilities in polymer science through the introduction of this course that is deeply imbedded in the research objectives of this proposal, but simple enough to arouse student's interest and learning. Furthermore, the proposed two-semester introductory polymer course/inquiry-based lab experience, which is a student-selected alternative to traditional General Chemistry, will facilitate the enhancement of learning and research skills for undergraduate students. Introduction of authentic research beginning in the freshman year should also increase the retention of undergraduates (including underrepresented minorities) in STEM (science/technology/engineering/mathematics) and increase the pipeline of underrepresented talent for STEM careers.TECHNICAL:The objective of the proposed research is to synthesize hybrid copolymers of disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (PAESs) by incorporating a post-modifiable unit, 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (TT), into the polymer backbone. The significance of this approach is that the properties of the proton exchange membrane for fuel cells could be engineered for precisely tailored performance by tuning the microstructure of the copolymer backbone using varying and distinct structural/functional features. The disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone- 2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) (PAES-TT) hybrid copolymers will be prepared to form linear, high molecular-weight materials after optimizing the required synthetic steps. Subsequently, PAES-TT membranes will be prepared and characterized to evaluate their structure-property relationships and performance in proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell applications. The educational component of this proposal is centered on developing an "Introduction to Polymer Chemistry: General Chemistry Concepts" lecture and lab course for freshman students as a means to incorporate student research experiences into the regular academic-year curriculum. Exposure of students to research, mentoring of students, broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science, and increasing the pipeline of underrepresented talent for STEM careers are other major components of the broader impacts of this project.