Advances in Synthesis and Integration Methods for Enhanced Properties, and Applications in Emerging Nanomaterials: Energy Materials II: Membranes and Catalysts
Sponsored by: TMS: Nanomaterials Committee
Program Organizers: Chang-Yong Nam, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Jung-Kun Lee, University of Pittsburgh; Zubaer Hossain, University of Delaware
Wednesday 8:00 AM
November 4, 2020
Room: Virtual Meeting Room 25
Location: MS&T Virtual
Session Chair: Chang-Yong Nam, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Jung-Kun Lee, University of Pittsburgh
8:00 AM Invited
Development of High-performance Ion Selective Membranes for Redox Flow Batteries: Sangil Kim1; Tongshuai Wang1; Natalie Fifield2; Chulsung Bae2; 1University of Illinois at Chicago; 2Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Development of a low cost, reliable energy storage technology with high energy density is of great interest to our society. In particular, highly efficient large-scale electrochemical energy storage, i.e. redox flow batteries (RFBs), has been an important issue to enhance the efficiency and quality of electrical grid. Polymeric ion exchange membranes (IEMs) with good ion conductivity and high ion selectivity are highly desirable for the development of high performance RFBs. Here, we present our recent studies on establishing the relationships of IEMs and their electrochemical membrane properties with focus on RFBs (e.g. lithium polysulfide, all-vanadium). Our work demonstrates that a series of novel sulfonated aromatic polymer membranes and their nanocomposite membranes can provide high ion conductivity (e.g. Li+, H+) as well as selectivity which surpass the traditional ion conductivity-selectivity trade-off. Our systematic studies of polymer structures, morphologies, and properties can elucidate structure–property relationships at the molecular level.
8:30 AM Invited
Influence of Surface Charge on the Photochemical Reactivity of SrTiO3, BaTiO3, and TiO2/BaTiO3 Heterostructured Catalysts: Wenjia Song1; Mingyi Zhang1; Paul Salvador1; Gregory Rohrer1; 1Carnegie Mellon University
For many years, researchers have sought metal oxide catalysts that efficiently split water in sunlight to produce hydrogen fuel. On the surfaces of oxide semiconductors with polar domains, electrons are attracted to positively terminated domains where they promote reduction reactions and holes are attracted to negatively charged domains where they promote oxidation. The separation of charge carriers reduces charge carrier recombination and the back reaction of the reduced and oxidized products. Here, we report results showing that it is possible to optimize the overall photochemical reactivity of SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 by controlling charged surface regions by controlling the solution pH. We will also describe a new high throughput method to study the rate of hydrogen production from BaTiO3, SrTiO3, and TiO2/BaTiO3 heterostructured catalysts as a function of materials preparation parameters and solution pH.