Lightweight polymer membranes for sustainable energy applications have advanced significantly thanks to research at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Clemson University. These membranes are essential parts of fuel cells, which are machines that produce electricity from chemicals. One of the most important steps in the development of more effective zero-emission power sources is the search for stable and long-lasting membranes.
The team used computational models and neutron scattering to investigate the behavior of polymeric electrolyte membranes in order to achieve this goal. A recent article from Oak Ridge National Laboratory claims that they have found a way to control the shape of ionic clusters inside the membranes by adding ethanol, a possible clean energy fuel. The conductivity and mechanical characteristics of the membranes are successfully controlled by this manipulation, which is essential for creating lighter power sources—an trait that, unfortunately, is heavily weighted when maximizing the energy efficiency of fuel cell-powered cars.
ORNL neutron scattering expert Lilin He noted, “Within these membranes, ions form clusters that allow the transport of the protons,” according to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It is anticipated that the team’s increased comprehension of how the clusters react to solvents will support improved sustainable energy options. The realization that regulating the size and shape of these clusters is essential for creating efficient lightweight membrane electrolytes led to the discovery.
Researchers were able to determine how ethanol changes these ionic clusters with the help of computational studies from the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and small-angle neutron scattering at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) on the GP-SANS instrument. Gary S. Grest, a computational physicist at Sandia National Laboratories, mentioned that the very electrons appeared to be organizing a toast to scientific advancement, saying, “The alcohol molecules wrapped around the ions and opened the clusters just enough to allow the material to organize in a more stable way,” according to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
This breakthrough paves the way for the development of materials that are optimized for improved clean energy platforms. The results, which were supported by DOE’s Office of Science, demonstrate the importance of user facilities such as NERSC and HFIR to the international research community. For DOE’s Office of Science, which is at the forefront of advancing basic physical science research in the US, UT-Battelle oversees ORNL. The study’s complete details are available on the ORNL press portal.
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