Ionic Transport in Ion Containing Copolymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Structures

从该项目中获得的基本理解将为设计下一代能源设备（如电池，燃料电池膜，超级电容器和电活性致动器）的新材料提供科学依据。该项目旨在通过在这些纳米颗粒上生长具有不对称组成的聚合物来合成聚合物功能化的球形磁性纳米颗粒，称为“聚合物接枝纳米颗粒”。 其分子结构的一个特殊特征是在聚合物链的末端存在含离子的分子。这些功能性的、基于颗粒的纳米材料将作为固态电解质进行研究，可用于燃料电池电解质膜。PI旨在了解“离子液体”（即液态盐）中的纳米颗粒结构与离子电导率之间的关系。 所得的纳米材料是无泄漏和无蒸汽且不易燃的具有离子传导网络结构的固体电解质。此外，它们还具有各种优点，例如高机械稳定性，因为该材料由无机颗粒组成;它们还具有聚合物链中的低离子含量和低吸水性。纳米材料被设计为控制离子聚集，使得能够研究离子液体在纳米结构颗粒内的限制，增强离子迁移率，并解开离子传输机制。该项目将在能源应用材料的广泛领域培训研究生和本科生以及学校教师。 一个纳米科学教育工作者研讨会将在新泽西/纽约地区的高中科学教师组织，旨在帮助教师整合纳米科学的概念和应用到他们的courses.Technical SummaryThis项目的目的是探索离子传输的纳米粒子为基础的聚电解质。PI提出了一个全面的研究计划，以支持在离子液体中具有低磺化量的聚（甲基丙烯酸甲酯-b-苯乙烯磺酸酯）链接枝的纳米颗粒中导电性的基本机制。据推测，离子聚集和离子簇的大小可以通过将含离子的共聚物接枝的纳米颗粒组织成串、交联和分散系统来控制。PI将使用准弹性中子散射实验研究合成的接枝纳米颗粒膜的链段动力学和离子输运。测得的链和离子迁移率将结合从X射线散射，透射电子显微镜和断层扫描获得的结构信息。该项目的主要目标是了解聚乙烯的组装（甲基丙烯酸甲酯）接枝的氧化铁纳米颗粒在各种溶剂和离子液体中的约束;并确定苯乙烯磺酸盐链端基对聚（甲基丙烯酸甲酯）-接枝颗粒，并测量其对链动力学和导电性的影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为值得支持，通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe fundamental understanding gained from this project will provide the scientific basis for designing new materials for next-generation energy devices such as batteries, fuel-cell membranes, supercapacitors, and electroactive actuators. The project aims to synthesize polymer-functionalized spherical magnetic nanoparticles known as "polymer-grafted nanoparticles" by growing polymers with asymmetric composition onto these nanoparticles. A special feature of their molecular architecture is the presence of ion-containing molecules in the end of the polymer chains. These functional, particle-based nanomaterials will be studied as solid-state electrolytes, which can be used in fuel-cell electrolyte membranes. The PI aims to understand the relationship between nanoparticle structures in "ionic liquids" (which are salts in a liquid state) and ionic conductivity. The resulting nanomaterials are leak- and vapor-free and non-flammable solid electrolytes with ion-conducting network structures. Furthermore, they also hold various advantages such as high mechanical stability since the material is composed of inorganic particles; they also have low ionic content in the polymer chains and low water uptake. The nanomaterials are designed so as to control ion aggregation, enable study of confinement of ionic liquids within nanostructured particles, enhance ionic mobility, and unravel ion transport mechanisms. The project will train graduate and undergraduate students and schoolteachers in the broad area of materials for energy applications. A Nanoscience Educator Workshop will be organized for high-school science teachers in the New Jersey/New York area, aiming to help teachers to integrate nanoscale science concepts and applications into their courses.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis project aims to explore ion transport in nanoparticle-based polyelectrolytes. The PI proposes a comprehensive research plan to underpin the fundamental mechanism of conductivity in the nanoparticles grafted with poly(methyl methacrylate-b-styrenesulfonate) chains with low sulfonation amounts in ionic liquids. It is hypothesized that ionic aggregation and ionic cluster sizes can be controlled by the organization of ion-containing copolymer-grafted nanoparticles into strings, percolated and dispersed systems. The PI will study segmental chain dynamics and ion transport of the synthesized grafted nanoparticle films using the quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments. The measured chain and ion mobility will be combined with the structural information obtained from X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and tomography. The major objectives of the project are to understand the assembly of poly(methyl methacrylate)-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles in various solvents and ionic liquids under confinement; and to determine the effect of styrenesulfonate chain end groups on the assembly of poly(methyl methacrylate)-grafted particles and measure its impact on chain dynamics and conductivity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.