Title:
Computational study of polymer membranes for proton and anion exchange membranes fuel cells

dc.contributor.advisor Jang, Seung Soon
dc.contributor.advisor Fuller, Thomas F.
dc.contributor.author Abu-Hakmeh, Khaldoon E.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Koros, William
dc.contributor.committeeMember Kohl, Paul
dc.contributor.committeeMember Ludovice, Peter
dc.contributor.department Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
dc.date.accessioned 2017-01-11T14:03:58Z
dc.date.available 2017-01-11T14:03:58Z
dc.date.created 2016-12
dc.date.issued 2016-11-02
dc.date.submitted December 2016
dc.date.updated 2017-01-11T14:03:58Z
dc.description.abstract Polymer electrolyte membranes with novel molecular architectures were simulated to study their structure-property relationships. Two types of polymer electrolyte membranes were considered: proton and anion exchange membranes. As a benchmark, Nafion, the most commercially successful membrane material, was simulated and subjected to mechanical deformation. The resulting water phase was found to be better developed in the direction perpendicular to deformation than in the stretched direction. Next, alternative hydrocarbon-based proton exchange membranes were designed and simulated. Polysulfone based membranes with typically exhibited smaller water domain sizes compared to Nafion. However, membranes with larger side chains and high sulfonation exhibited phase separation and transport properties comparable to Nafion. A polysulfone-based anion exchange membrane was compared to a proton exchange membrane with the same backbone. The two membranes exhibited similar phase-segregated morphologies, with significantly lower ionic transport in the anion exchange model. Last, a series of highly fluorinated multi-block copolymer anion exchange membrane were simulated and characterized. The simulations were validated by experimental structure and transport property trends. Design parameters to improve membrane performance and implications for future research are discussed.
dc.description.degree Ph.D.
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/56298
dc.language.iso en_US
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology
dc.subject Molecular dynamics
dc.subject Fuel cells
dc.subject Proton exchange membranes
dc.subject Anion exchange membranes
dc.title Computational study of polymer membranes for proton and anion exchange membranes fuel cells
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.advisor Fuller, Thomas F.
local.contributor.advisor Jang, Seung Soon
local.contributor.corporatename School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
local.contributor.corporatename College of Engineering
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relation.isAdvisorOfPublication 2a440d81-b960-4958-8534-0b207d8488a7
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relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 7c022d60-21d5-497c-b552-95e489a06569
thesis.degree.level Doctoral
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