Advanced Membranes for Seawater Electrolysis: Enabling Osmotic Control, Preamination, Cross-linking for High Volume Manufacturing
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) emits over 55 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, accounting for approximately 80%of the U.S. Government#s CO2 emissions. About 60% of the emissions come from operations where the Navy plays a critical role. Producing hydrogen through the electrolysis of seawater provides a pathway to future energy systems and can lower CO2 emissions. The objective of this applied research (i.e., 6.2 funding) proposal is to provide advanced solid polymer electrolyte membranes and ionomers to enable resilient and cost-effective hydrogen production from seawater. An on-board electrolysis system using both anion conductive (AEM) and cation conductive membranes (PEM) has the potential to efficiently and environmentally produce hydrogen from seawaterthrough electrolysis. While PEMs are a mature technology for electrolysis, chemically stable and manufacturable AEMs have only recently become available. One polymer in particular, poly(norbornene), is a very promising platform material to produce AEMs due to its high glass transition temperature, chemical stability, and ability to be functionalized. This functionalization, referred to as amination, is required to add quaternary amine functionality to the membrane which enables anion transport. Current approaches to manufacturing aminated poly(norbornene) polymers, however, are slow and costly. We propose to use an emergent additive manufacturing processes known as electrospray printing to do in-situ amination of the poly (norbornene) polymer as it is being made. Our technique will enable rapid and less costly AEM manufacturing while enabling seawater electrolysis processes that are of interest to the Navy. This abstract is "Approved for Public Release".
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 15, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312541
Entities
People
- Jeffrey R. McCutcheon
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Connecticut