Ionomer thin film studies: effect of ionomer type on structure and properties

2014年12月，丰田推出首款以聚合物电解质燃料电池为动力的商用车Mirai后，聚合物电解质燃料电池（pefc）在过去一年中重新引起了人们的极大兴趣。持续改进性能和降低成本仍然是该技术中长期的重点。离子导电聚合物（离聚体）是pefc的重要材料组成部分。该材料以10s微米厚的电解质膜形式存在，也以纳米薄膜形式存在于pefc催化剂层中。****本研究的最终目标是建立多种不同分子结构的超薄离聚体薄膜的结构-性能关系，以帮助我们的工业合作伙伴在选择离聚体类型和调整制造条件时做出科学的选择，以设计高性能CLs。此外，从生成的新知识/数据中，可以建立合理的设计规则，用于新的离子单体的合成或开发。此外，关于离聚体结构-性质关系的基本知识可能对更广泛的工程/科学/技术界有用，例如那些涉及将薄离聚体薄膜用于其他应用的人，如致动器，电解槽，传感器，聚合物电解质电池以及新方法

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have regained a lot of interest over the past year after the launch of first PEFC-powered commercial vehicle by Toyota - the Mirai - in December 2014. Continual improvement in performance and reduction in cost still remain the mid-to-long term focus for this technology. The ion-conducting polymer (ionomer) is a critical material component of PEFCs. This material exists as 10s of microns thick electrolyte membrane and also as nano-thin films in the catalyst layer of PEFCs. ****The ultimate objective of the proposed research is to establish the structure-property relationships of the ultra-thin ionomer films for a number of different ionomers varying in molecular structure to help our industrial partner make science-based choice in selecting ionomer type and to tune fabrication conditions for designing high performance CLs. Additionally, from the new knowledge/data generated, rational design rules might be set up for novel synthesis or development of ionomer. In addition, the fundamental knowledge on ionomer structure-property relations could be useful to broader engineering/scientific/technological community, e.g. those involved in using thin ionomer films for other applications such as actuators, electrolyzers, sensors, polymer electrolyte based batteries in as well as new methodologies.**