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Department of Chemistry an Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Cruz
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Department of Chemistry an Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Cruz
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Polymer Water-Resistant Membranes for Air Cathode BatteriesTThis part of the project focuses on polymers as water-resistant, oxygen-permeable coatings for the Li air cathodes. These barriers will repel water and protect the device, but at the same time allow oxygen into the cell to react at the cathode surface. As-prepared PE, PVC and PDMS may intrinsically have our desired properties. Water vapor permeability for PDMS, however, has also been shown to be high.4 One possible way to enhance the water resistance of the polymers is to coat the entire surface with a hydrophobic organic monolayer (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Oxidation of the polymer surface creates surface hydroxyl group, allowing the deposition of a hydrophobic perfluorinated SAM.
Another method to decrease the water permeability through the polymer is to disperse a hygroscopic solid into the polymer matrix.
Figure 2. Adding particles to the prepolymer: (a) less dense with even distribution; (b) larger or denser sink to top (after inverting). The target properties
will be studied by combining a number of analytical techniques available in the
investigators’ laboratories: thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to monitor gas
uptake into the material versus time and/or temperature; physi/chemi-sorption
analyzer, which can analyze oxygen and water; gas chromatography with a helium
mobile phase for O2 permeability; contact angle to follow the surface
modification of the polymer.
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