Block Polymer Routes to Robust Nanostructured Membrane Materials

阻断聚合物通往坚固纳米结构膜材料的途径

基本信息

批准号：
1006370
负责人：
Marc Hillmyer
金额：
$ 48万
依托单位：
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2010
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2010-06-01 至 2016-05-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1006370&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Block Polymer Routes Robust Nanostructured

项目摘要

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Polymeric membranes are widely used in technologies ranging from municipal water treatment to food processing to industrial gas separations. The separation efficiency and flux across the membrane are two of the key factors that determine their ultimate utility. These figures of merit are closely tied to the nanoscale morphology of the membrane in many cases. Two strategies that utilize block polymers as the principal components for the preparation of various nanostructured membranes with tunable attributes are proposed. Block polymer self-assembly coupled with the integration of functional attributes into these hybrid macromolecules is a powerful and versatile platform for the preparation of advanced membrane materials. The proposed research activities build on the principal investigator's past efforts with functional block polymers that have resulted in efficient ultrafiltration, gas separation, and proton exchange membranes for applications in water purification, ammonia purification, and direct methanol fuel cells. Specific targets in the proposed work include nanostructured high-density polyethylene membranes by a self-assembly approach and nanostructured thermoset membranes by a reaction induced phase separation approach. The complete characterization of the resultant materials will be undertaken using a bevy of modern techniques and the implementation and testing of new membranes derived from these materials will be accomplished. The target materials described have tremendous potential to impact a broad swath of important technologies. The basic research and development emphasis will be aimed at new materials for water purification, battery, and fuel cell applications.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Membranes are thin sheets of material that can be used to purify a wide variety of heterogenous mixtures. Many industrially relevant membranes are made from polymers. Such polymeric membranes are currently used in technologies ranging from municipal water treatment to food processing to industrial gas separations. Membranes with higher efficiency and overall performance are targeted in this proposal. Strategies that rely on precision design and synthesis of innovative hybrid polymeric materials that can adopt complex but controlled nanostructures will be undertaken. The membranes generated in this work will be thoroughly characterized, evaluated, and compared to currently available materials. The technological implications of the proposed work are far-reaching and promise societal benefit. Water purification, lithium-ion battery and fuel cell technologies are far from maturity but are extremely important for global sustainability mandates. The basic research described in this proposal will provide the necessary fundamental underpinnings for the development of next-generation technologies in these areas. In addition to the basic research efforts, several outreach activities will be integrated into the overall program. As one example, a chemical demonstration show called "Energy and U" that emphasizes the important topic of energy (where it comes from, how it's used, and how it's converted) will be performed annually to over 3000 K-12 students.

技术摘要：聚合物膜广泛应用于从市政水处理到食品加工再到工业气体分离等技术。分离效率和跨膜通量是决定其最终效用的两个关键因素。在许多情况下，这些品质因数与膜的纳米级形态密切相关。提出了两种利用嵌段聚合物作为主要成分来制备具有可调属性的各种纳米结构膜的策略。嵌段聚合物自组装加上将功能属性集成到这些杂化大分子中，是用于制备先进膜材料的强大且多功能的平台。拟议的研究活动建立在主要研究者过去在功能性嵌段聚合物方面的努力的基础上，这些聚合物已产生高效的超滤、气体分离和质子交换膜，用于水净化、氨净化和直接甲醇燃料电池。拟议工作的具体目标包括通过自组装方法制备纳米结构高密度聚乙烯膜和通过反应诱导相分离方法制备纳米结构热固性膜。将使用一系列现代技术对所得材料进行完整表征，并将完成由这些材料衍生的新膜的实施和测试。所描述的目标材料具有影响广泛重要技术的巨大潜力。基础研究和开发重点将针对水净化、电池和燃料电池应用的新材料。非技术摘要：膜是材料薄片，可用于净化各种异质混合物。许多工业相关的膜都是由聚合物制成的。这种聚合物膜目前用于从市政水处理到食品加工再到工业气体分离的技术。该提案的目标是具有更高效率和整体性能的膜。将采取依赖于创新混合聚合物材料的精确设计和合成的策略，这些材料可以采用复杂但受控的纳米结构。这项工作中产生的膜将被彻底表征、评估，并与现有材料进行比较。拟议工作的技术影响是深远的，有望带来社会效益。水净化、锂离子电池和燃料电池技术还远未成熟，但对于全球可持续发展任务极为重要。该提案中描述的基础研究将为这些领域的下一代技术的发展提供必要的基础支撑。除了基础研究工作外，一些外展活动也将被纳入总体计划中。例如，每年都会向超过 3000 名 K-12 学生表演一场名为“能源与 U”的化学演示节目，强调能源的重要主题（能源从何而来、如何使用以及如何转换）。