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一个至关重要的全球优先事项。这里概述的基础研究旨在研究材料相互作用、传输现象以及为开发新一代高效、耐用和低成本的可持续能源转换系统提供设计工具，即：i)聚合物电解质膜燃料电池；ii)吸附制冷系统；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的形态以及在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。这些过程发生在各种材料和部件中，这些材料和部件具有从纳米到厘米的特征。由于目标系统的多层体系结构，可能会在界面处发生重大损失；界面现象需要表征和量化。这种装置的现场环境使实验观测成为一项重大挑战。我提出了新的系统的实验和理论方法，以：i)使用先进的显微镜、重建技术和单元建模相结合的方法来表征这种器件的多尺度多层多孔核心；ii)开发一个力学模型来预测实际操作条件下微结构核心及其相关界面上的动态载荷效应；iii)测量和预测核心多孔多层单元中的原位输运特性(包括体相和界面)；iv)通过现场测量和模拟来提高对输运特性中耦合和滞后效应这一挑战性问题的理解；v)在多尺度系统模拟中集成最先进的特性模型；以及vi)验证和应用模型，以探索新的概念和战略，以提高目标系统的效率。这项研究将提供培训年轻研究人员的激励机会，并将受益于(并转移到)合作的加拿大公司，并将促进与许多工程和自然科学有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.