Design and Synthesis of Robust Cationic Polymers for Stable and Efficient Anion-Exchange Membranes

凯文·努南和Tomasz Kowalewski教授在化学系的大分子，超分子和纳米化学（MSN）计划的支持下设计和制备新的带电聚合物，作为离子交换膜。这些膜夹在燃料电池的负极室和正极室之间，被认为是这些能量转换装置的关键部件。 各种与消费者相关的产品依赖于燃料电池来产生清洁能源。 新的阳离子（带正电荷）聚合物膜合成使用适当的控制聚合技术。在燃料电池工作条件下评估了它们的化学、电化学和机械稳定性。 这项工作的主要目标之一是制造能够承受燃料电池装置的恶劣化学环境的耐用膜。如果成功的话，使用这些新合成的聚合物膜的燃料电池将不依赖于贵金属来发电，这代表了显着的经济优势。来自不同背景的学生接受培训并参与该项目。正在制定一个“燃料电池项目”，其中包括教育材料和示范。该项目在网上提供，用于教育初中学生了解可再生能源的生命周期。在这个项目中，PI正在探索阳离子聚合物在氢氧离子存在下的化学和电化学稳定性。 所获得的信息用于构建用于燃料电池中离子传输的坚固膜。虽然质子在酸性条件下的运输是公认的，但在热和电化学应力下固体聚合物电解质中的氢氧化物运输仍然是一个重大挑战。开发下一代耐用、持久和惰性的阳离子材料，用于穿梭这些腐蚀性阴离子，需要将合成和表征相结合。 可控聚合技术对于构建聚合物材料至关重要。 一组表征技术用于评估其结构、稳定性和形态。具体而言，X射线散射，原子力显微镜，运输/设备测量和计算化学被用来探测这些膜的属性。通过合成定义明确的聚合物和嵌段共聚物来定制运输和机械性能。这些材料用于建立新型离聚物的离子传输和形态之间的关系。这一工作为后续的材料设计提供了基础，以优化阴离子传输。如果成功，该项目将为碱性燃料电池提供稳定高效的阴离子交换膜（AEM），无需贵金属即可正常工作。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

Professors Kevin Noonan and Tomasz Kowalewski of Carnegie-Mellon University are supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the Division of Chemistry to design and prepare new charged polymers that function as ion-exchange membranes. These membranes are sandwiched between the negative and positive compartments of fuel cells and are considered a key component of these energy conversion devices. A variety of consumer related products rely on fuel cells for clean energy generation. New cationic (positively charged) polymer membranes are synthesized using appropriate controlled polymerization techniques. Their chemical, electrochemical, and mechanical stability are assessed under fuel cell operating conditions. One of the main objectives of this work is to make durable membranes which can withstand the harsh chemical environments of a fuel cell device. If successful, fuel cells with these newly synthesized polymer membranes will not rely on precious metals for energy generation, which represents a significant economic advantage. Students from diverse backgrounds are trained and involved in this project. A "Fuel Cell Project" with educational material and demonstrations is being developed. The project is made available on the web and used to educate junior high school students about renewable energy life cycles. In this project, the PIs are exploring the chemical and electrochemical stability of cationic polymers in the presence of hydroxide ions. The information obtained is used to build robust membranes for ion-transport in fuel cells. While transport of protons under acidic conditions is well established, hydroxide transport in solid polymer electrolytes under thermal and electrochemical stress is still a significant challenge. The development of next-generation robust, long-lasting and inert cationic materials for shuttling these caustic anions requires a combination of synthesis and characterization. Controlled polymerization techniques are critical for building the polymer materials. A battery of characterization techniques is used to evaluate their structure, stability and morphology. Specifically, X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, transport/device measurements and computational chemistry are used to probe the properties of these membranes. Transport and mechanical properties are tailored by synthesizing well-defined polymers and block copolymers. These materials are used to establish relationships between ion transport and morphology of novel ionomers. This work provides the basis for subsequent material design to optimize anion transport. If successful, the project will result in stable and efficient anion exchange membranes (AEMs) for alkaline fuel cells that do not need precious metals for proper function.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.