Collaborative Research: SusChEM: Molecular Design of Durable Lewis Basic Elastomeric Membranes for Clean Energy Conversion and CO2 Separation

非技术摘要：严重依赖化石燃料作为能源，产生了对可持续能源和技术的需求，并解决了大气中二氧化碳的积累问题。在燃料电池中，储存在燃料中的化学能通过电化学反应直接转化为电能，而不会产生二氧化碳等气体。最近，阴离子交换膜(AEM)燃料电池被认为是一种很有前途的可持续能源技术，可以替代燃烧化石燃料。目前，AEMS的化学不稳定性、氢氧化物导电性的丧失和机械稳定性的恶化一直是其成功应用的主要障碍。目前的CO2分离工艺并不节能，需要具有更好的渗透性和选择性的CO2选择性膜。为了解决这些问题，由一名合成聚合物化学家、一名物理聚合物化学家和一名膜科学家组成的研究团队将开展一项跨学科的研究和教育计划，以推进我们基于耐用弹性膜的材料设计，用于清洁能源发电和二氧化碳分离技术。研究小组将设计新的高分子材料来提高聚合物膜的性能，然后确定其结构和性能。学生将与合成聚合物化学、材料表征和膜性能评估方面的专家互动，因此将通过多学科解决问题的方法进行培训。除了针对学生的基础研究和教育计划外，关于清洁能源和环境可持续性的推广计划将有助于提高当地社区的科学素养，并扩大这项研究对社会的影响。技术综述：到目前为止，大多数用于阴离子交换膜(AEM)燃料电池和二氧化碳分离的膜材料都依赖于刚性聚合物，因为它们在干燥状态下具有良好的机械稳定性。然而，具有嵌段共聚纳米结构的弹性膜更适合于实际应用，因为它们能够更好地抵御水和二氧化碳引起的溶胀和塑化。在这个合作项目中，PI将从分子上设计聚合物结构，以提高此类应用的聚合物膜的性能。它们旨在提高对极性基团、聚合物结构、纳米相分离形态和聚合物膜性能(例如，机械、热化学、离子传输、气体渗透)之间的分子水平关系的理解，这可能导致开发用于碱性燃料电池和二氧化碳分离过程的改进型膜材料。该SusChEM项目的成果将促进对用于碱性膜燃料电池和二氧化碳分离的下一代聚合物膜设计的发现和理解。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Heavy dependence on fossil fuels as an energy source has created the need for sustainable energy sources and technologies, as well as addressing the buildup of CO2 in the atmosphere. In fuel cells, the chemical energy stored in fuel is converted directly to electrical energy via electrochemical reactions without producing gases such as CO2. Recently, anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells have been investigated as a promising sustainable-energy technology alternative to burning fossil fuels. Currently, the chemical instability of AEMs, loss of hydroxide conductivity, and deterioration of mechanical stability have been major obstacles to their successful applications. Current CO2 separation processes are not energy efficient, and CO2-selective membranes with better permeability and selectivity are needed. To address these issues, a research team composed of a synthetic polymer chemist, a physical polymer chemist, and a membrane scientist will conduct an interdisciplinary research and education program to advance our materials design based on durable elastomeric membranes for clean energy generation and CO2 separation technologies. The team of researchers will design new macromolecular materials to enhance performance of polymer membranes, followed by determining their structures and properties. Students will interact with experts in synthetic polymer chemistry, materials characterization, and membrane property evaluation and thus will be educated through multidisciplinary problem-solving approaches. In addition to basic research and education programs for students, outreach programs on clean energy and environmental sustainability will contribute to improving the scientific literacy of the local community and broaden the impact of this research on society. TECHNICAL SUMMARY:To date, the development of most membrane materials for anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells and CO2 separation has relied on rigid polymers because of their good mechanical stability in dry states. However, elastic membranes with block copolymer nanostructure are more suitable for practical applications because they can better withstand the swelling and plasticization caused by water and CO2. In this collaborative project, the PIs will molecularly design polymer structures to enhance performance of polymer membranes for such applications. They aim to improve understanding of molecular-level relationships among polar groups, polymer architectures, nanophase-segregated morphologies, and polymer membrane properties (e.g., mechanical, thermochemical, ion transport, gas permeation), which may lead to the development of improved membrane materials for applications in alkaline fuel cells and CO2 separation processes.The outcomes of this SusChEM project will advance discovery and understanding for the design of next-generation polymer membranes for alkaline membrane fuel cells and CO2 separation.