Transport Phenomena in Emerging Microstructured Porous Materials of Sustainable Energy Conversion Systems

清洁能源的生产、储存和转换技术现在是全球的一个关键优先事项。本文概述的基础研究旨在研究材料相互作用，传输现象，并为开发下一代高效，耐用和低成本的可持续能源转换系统提供设计工具，即：1)聚合物电解质膜燃料电池；Ii)吸附式制冷系统；iii)聚合物锂离子电池。这些系统的性能和可靠性在很大程度上依赖于材料形态，以及构成这些设备核心的多孔材料和相关界面中热/质量/电荷传输的有效性。这些过程发生在具有从纳米到厘米的特征的各种材料和组件中。由于目标系统的多层结构，在接口处可能发生重大损失；需要对界面现象进行表征和量化。这种装置的现场环境使实验观察成为一项重大挑战。我提出了新的系统的实验和理论方法：I)结合先进的显微技术、重建技术和细胞建模来表征这种装置的多尺度多层多孔核，ii)建立一个机制模型来预测在实际操作条件下对微观结构核和相关界面的动态载荷影响，iii)测量和预测核心多孔多层细胞的原位传输特性（包括体积和界面）。Iv)通过原位测量和模拟提高对输运性质中耦合和滞后效应的挑战性问题的理解；V)在多尺度系统模拟中集成最先进的属性模型；验证和应用模型来探索新的概念和策略，以提高目标系统的效率。这项研究将为培养年轻研究人员提供刺激的机会，并将受益于（或转移到）合作的加拿大公司，并将推进与许多工程和自然科学相关的多孔介质中传输现象的知识。

Clean energy generation, storage, and conversion technologies are now a crucial global priority. The fundamental studies outlined here aim at investigating material interactions, transport phenomena as well as providing design tools for the development of next generation of efficient, durable and low-cost sustainable energy conversion systems, namely: i) polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells; ii) adsorption refrigeration systems; and iii) polymer lithium-ion batteries. The performance and reliability of these systems rely heavily on material morphology as well as the effectiveness of the transport of heat/mass/charge in the porous materials and associated interfaces that make up the core of these devices. These processes take place in a variety of materials and components having characteristic features ranging from nano- to centimeters. Due to multi-layered architecture of the targeted systems, significant losses can occur at interfaces; the interfacial phenomena need to be characterized and quantified. The in-situ environment in such devices makes experimental observations a major challenge. I propose new systematic experimental and theoretical methods to: i) characterize the multi-scale multi-layer porous core of such devices using a combination of advanced microscopy, reconstruction techniques, and cell modeling, ii) develop a mechanistic model to predict dynamic load effects on the microstructure core and the associated interfaces under real operating conditions, iii) measure and predict in-situ transport properties (both bulk and interfacial) in the core porous multi-layer cells, iv) improve understanding of the challenging issues of coupled and hysteresis effects in the transport properties through in-situ measurements and simulations; v) integrate state-of-the-art property models in multi-scale system simulations; and vi) validate and apply models to explore novel concepts and strategies to improve the efficiency of the targeted systems. This research will provide stimulating opportunities to train young researchers and will be benefited by (and transferred to) collaborating Canadian companies, and will advance knowledge in transport phenomena in porous media relevant to many engineering and natural sciences.