Electrolyte Materials and Physical Chemistry for Electrochemical Devices
Abstract
Polymer electrolytes incorporated into electrochemical cells have found use across a wide range of applications of Naval interest, including energy conversion and storage systems, water purification, sensors and even estuarial energy harvesting systems. One variable amongst these uses is the different environments to which the membranes are exposed. The environments can introduce various cations, anions and solvents into the polymer electrolyte. Examples include vanadium redox flow batteries, in which a membrane is exposed to concentrated acid containing vanadium ions and electrodesalination units in which concentrated salt or seawater solutions are in contact with the material. Furthermore, new energy storage approaches may entail non-aqueous electrolytes in contact with the polymer and many systems bathe membranes in different solutions on the two faces of the membrane. Unlike the case for the proton exchange membranes in PEM fuel cells, there has been dramatically less work probing the aspects appropriate to optimal membrane behavior in such systems. This proposal addresses basic aspects of membrane physical chemistry in the presence of ions other than protons, in contact with concentrated solutions, for various electrolyte types and for non-aqueous solutions. Membranes to be studied will be obtained from external sources and will also be synthesized as part of the work. Finally, some of these materials will be tested in devices since the polymer electrolyte behavior is driven by device type. For device studies, the polymer electrolyte also plays an intimate role as conductor and binder in electrodes and this will be probed on a limited basis. This set of fundamental studies will provide the underlying understanding for a range of foreseeable applications in electrochemical systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612095
Entities
People
- Thomas A Zawodzinski
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Tennessee