Research

Polymer Materials

Polymer materials for batteries and display devices (Polymer LED's & Electrochromic Windows).

1. Synthesis. Continued work in this area will require the development of new polymer materials which have well controlled molecular and mechanical properties. To prepare such polymers requires the study of polymerization reaction conditions in some detail. Details of mass and energy transport in polymer synthesis provides much scope for new research.
2. Characterization. The polymers of interest for these applications undergo high stress testing due to transport of ions and charge through them. Understanding of these transport processes on a molecular level will be developed both through the bulk of the polymer and through the interfaces. Molecular modeling may be appropriate in some cases.
3. There is a pressing need for new cost-effective approaches to the preparation of ionomeric membranes for Solid Polymer Electrolyte (SPE) fuel cells and other applications of the SPE configuration for chemical processing. Two approaches are suggested. One involves fundamental advances in fluorination chemistry to bring down the cost of fluorinated membranes. The second involves use of non-fluorinated or partially fluorinated membranes with higher temperature capabilities and with some form of built-in protection to extend lifetime.