Project Details
Projekt
Automated design of resilient polymers: An anion exchange membrane for fuel cells and water electrolyzers
Subject Area
Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering
Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 549850766
Electrochemical energy conversion technologies are crucial in the shift of global energy systems from fossil fuels to sustainable sources. This research proposal focuses on the intersection of automated theoretical design and experimental validation to develop novel functional materials. Its goal is to transform the discovery and application of high-performance materials across various applications and industries. The proposal specifically targets the critical challenge of improving the chemical stability of anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) used in fuel cells and water electrolyzers. We aim to design AEMs that exhibit minimal susceptibility to chemical degradation in the worst possible environment (high temperatures and extreme alkaline environments), making AEM-based technologies a viable and competitive alternative to existing energy conversion solutions. The significance of this research lies in its potential to drastically reduce the time and costs associated with developing new materials. In addition, by employing automated design tools, we will discover new functional materials with the desired properties, thereby addressing the current limitations in laboratory experimental approaches and paving the way for high-fidelity "Materials by Design" methodologies. The primary goal of this proposal is to design and demonstrate a functioning AEM that exhibits minimal chemical degradation in alkaline environments. We will leverage computational chemistry methods and chemical kinetic modeling, along with experimental validations at the monomer, polymer, membrane, and electrochemical device scales, to create durable and robust AEM-based fuel cell and water electrolyzer technologies. Successfully achieving the objectives of the present work will facilitate the efficient design of degradation-resistant materials, marking a significant step forward in the automation of chemical discovery, as well as in the transition to sustainable energy sources.
DFG Programme
DIP Programme
International Connection
Israel
Major Instrumentation
high-temperature and high-pressure reactor
