1
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Lathrop P, Sun R, Beyer FL, Elabd YA. Highly Frustrated Poly(ionic liquid) ABC Triblock Terpolymers with Exceptionally High Morphology Factors. Macromolecules 2024; 57:3776-3797. [PMID: 38681059 PMCID: PMC11044597 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c02435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we report the successful synthesis of 17 unique compositions of a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) ABC triblock terpolymer, poly(S-b-VBMIm-TFSI-b-HA), where S is styrene, VBMIm-TFSI is vinylbenzyl methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, and HA is hexyl acrylate. Nine distinct morphologies were observed, including two-phase and three-phase disordered microphase separated (D2 and D3), two-phase hexagonally packed cylinders (C2), core-shell hexagonally packed cylinders (CCS), three-phase lamellae (L3), two-phase lamellae (L2), core-shell double gyroid (Q230), spheres-in-lamellae (LSI), and a three-phase hexagonal superlattice of cylinders (CSL). The LSI morphology was unambiguously confirmed using small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Morphology type significantly impacted the ion conductivity of the PIL ABC triblock terpolymers, where remarkable changes in morphology factor (normalized ion conductivity) were observed with only small changes in the conducting volume fraction, i.e., PIL block composition. An exceptionally high morphology factor of 2.0 was observed from the PIL ABC triblock terpolymer with a hexagonal superlattice morphology due to the three-dimensional narrow, continuous PIL nanodomains that accelerate ion conduction. Overall, this work demonstrates the first systematic study of highly frustrated single-ion conducting ABC triblock terpolymers with a diverse set of morphologies and exceptionally high morphology factors, enabling the exploration of transport-morphology relationships to guide the future design of highly conductive polymer electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick
M. Lathrop
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Rui Sun
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Frederick L. Beyer
- U.S.
Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Maryland 21005, United States
| | - Yossef A. Elabd
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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2
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Bandegi A, Marquez Garcia M, Bañuelos JL, Firestone MA, Foudazi R. Soft nanoconfinement of ionic liquids in lyotropic liquid crystals. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:8118-8129. [PMID: 34525150 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm00796c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoconfinement of ionic liquids (ILs) influences their physicochemical properties. In this study, we investigate the effect of soft nanoconfinement imposed by lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) on ILs. The LLC ion gels are obtained through self-assembly of a short chain block copolymer (BCP) of polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene oxide), PE-b-PEO, in ILs. The effect of confinement on the interaction of ions with PEO is investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption measurements. The results show that the synergistic effect on the CO2 absorption capacity of LLC ion gels takes place as a result of confinement. Formation of IL pathways through the LLC increases the CO2 solubility, absorption capacity, and absorption rate. Increasing the concentration of block copolymer in the LLC structure enhances the dissociation of ILs and consequently lowers CO2 absorption. Therefore, the competing effects of confinement and IL-PEO interaction control the properties of LLC ion gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Bandegi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA.
| | - Maria Marquez Garcia
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA.
| | - Jose L Bañuelos
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Millicent A Firestone
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Materials Physics & Applications Division, Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA
| | - Reza Foudazi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA.
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3
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Bandegi A, Kim K, Foudazi R. Ion transport in polymerized lyotropic liquid crystals containing ionic liquid. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Bandegi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering New Mexico State University Las Cruces New Mexico USA
| | - Kyungtae Kim
- Materials Physics and Applications Division Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico USA
| | - Reza Foudazi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering New Mexico State University Las Cruces New Mexico USA
- School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering University of Oklahoma Norman Oklahoma USA
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4
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Goldfeld DJ, Silver ES, Valdez JM, Hillmyer MA. Bicontinuous Ion-Exchange Materials through Polymerization-Induced Microphase Separation. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:60-64. [PMID: 35548992 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Polymerization-induced microphase separation has been used to prepare solid cross-linked monoliths containing bicontinuous and nanostructured polymer domains. We use this process to fabricate a monolith containing either a negatively or positively charged polyelectrolyte domain inside of the neutral styrene/divinylbenzene-derived matrix. First, the materials are made with a neutral pre-ionic polymer containing masked charged groups. The monoliths are then functionalized to a charged state by treatment with trimethylamine; small-angle X-ray scattering shows no significant morphological change in the microphase-separated structure upon postpolymerization modification. By exchanging dyes with the counterions in the material, we corroborated the continuity of the charged domains. Using ion-exchange capacity measurements, we estimate the number of accessible charges within the material based on macro-chain transfer agent molar mass and loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Goldfeld
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Eric S. Silver
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - José M. Valdez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Marc A. Hillmyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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5
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Kang S, Park MJ. 100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Block Copolymers with Tethered Acid Groups: Challenges and Opportunities. ACS Macro Lett 2020; 9:1527-1541. [PMID: 35617073 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Scientific research on advanced polymer electrolytes has led to the emergence of all-solid-state energy storage/transfer systems. Early research began with acid-tethered polymers half a century ago, and research interest has gradually shifted to high-precision polymers with controllable acid functional groups and nanoscale morphologies. Consequently, various self-assembled acid-tethered block polymer morphologies have been produced. Their ion properties are profoundly affected by the multiscale intermolecular interactions in confinements. The creation of hierarchically organized ion/dipole arrangements inside the block copolymer nanostructures has been highlighted as a future method for developing advanced single-ion polymers with decoupled ion dynamics and polymer chain relaxation. Several emerging practical applications of the acid-tethered block copolymers have been explored to draw attention to the challenges and opportunities in developing state-of-the-art electrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejong Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea 790-784
| | - Moon Jeong Park
- Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea 790-784
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6
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Nwosu C, Pandey TP, Herring AM, Seifert S, Coughlin EB. Optimization of anionic conductivity through the coexistence of ionomer cluster and backbone‐backbone morphologies in anion exchange membranes. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20200629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chinomso Nwosu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA
| | - Tara P. Pandey
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Colorado School of Mines Golden Colorado USA
| | - Andrew M. Herring
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Colorado School of Mines Golden Colorado USA
| | - Soenke Seifert
- X‐ray Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne Illinois USA
| | - E. Bryan Coughlin
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA
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7
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Zhao Y, Yoshimura K, Mahmoud AMA, Yu HC, Okushima S, Hiroki A, Kishiyama Y, Shishitani H, Yamaguchi S, Tanaka H, Noda Y, Koizumi S, Radulescu A, Maekawa Y. A long side chain imidazolium-based graft-type anion-exchange membrane: novel electrolyte and alkaline-durable properties and structural elucidation using SANS contrast variation. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:8128-8143. [PMID: 32735002 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00947d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Newly designed styrylimidazolium-based grafted anion-exchange membranes (StIm-AEMs), in which imidazolium ionic groups are attached to styrene at the far side from the graft chains, were prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of p-(2-imidazoliumyl) styrene onto poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoloethylene) (ETFE) films, followed by N-alkylation and ion-exchange reactions. StIm-AEM having an ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.54 mmol g-1 with a grafting degree (GD) of ∼18%, possesses practical conductivity (>50 mS cm-1) even with a very low water uptake (∼10%) and high stability over 600 h in a 1 M KOH solution at 80 °C. There exists a critical IEC (IECc) in the range of 0.7-0.8 mmol g-1 over which the membrane showed high water uptake, which resulted in pronounced susceptibility to hydrolysis. Using small-angle neutron scattering technique with a contrast variation method, we found the hydrophilic phase in StIm-AEMs with IECs lower and higher than IECc shows "reverse-micelles" with water domains dispersed in the polymer matrix and "micelles" with graft polymer aggregates dispersed in the water matrix, respectively. The further analysis of micelle structures using the hard-sphere liquid model and Porod limit analysis reveals that the interfacial structures of ionic groups are essential for the electrochemical properties and durability of StIm-AEMs. In addition, StIm-AEM with an IEC of 0.95 mmol g-1 and the maximum power density of 80 mW cm-2 in the hydrazine hydrate fuel cell test, exhibited long-term durability under constant current (8.0 mA) up to 455 h, which, thus far, is the best durability at 80 °C for platinum-free alkaline-type liquid fuel cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhao
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
| | - Kimio Yoshimura
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
| | - Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
| | - Hwan-Chul Yu
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
| | - Shun Okushima
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
| | - Akihiro Hiroki
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
| | | | | | | | - Hirohisa Tanaka
- School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda, Hyogo 669-1337, Japan
| | - Yohei Noda
- Department of Engineering, Ibaraki University, Hitachi 316-8511, Japan
| | - Satoshi Koizumi
- Department of Engineering, Ibaraki University, Hitachi 316-8511, Japan
| | - Aurel Radulescu
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich Centre for Neutron Science@MLZ, Lichtenbergstraße 1, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Yasunari Maekawa
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan.
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8
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Chu W, Webb MA, Deng C, Colón YJ, Kambe Y, Krishnan S, Nealey PF, de Pablo JJ. Understanding Ion Mobility in P2VP/NMP+I– Polymer Electrolytes: A Combined Simulation and Experimental Study. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Chu
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Michael A. Webb
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Chuting Deng
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Yamil J. Colón
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Yu Kambe
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 70439, United States
| | - Satya Krishnan
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Paul F. Nealey
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 70439, United States
| | - Juan J. de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 70439, United States
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9
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Yoshimura K, Zhao Y, Hiroki A, Kishiyama Y, Shishitani H, Yamaguchi S, Tanaka H, Koizumi S, Houston JE, Radulescu A, Appavou MS, Richter D, Maekawa Y. Reverse relationships of water uptake and alkaline durability with hydrophilicity of imidazolium-based grafted anion-exchange membranes. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:9118-9131. [PMID: 30234879 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01650j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We found unprecedented reverse relationships in anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) for Pt-free alkaline fuel cell systems, i.e., the increase in hydrophobicity increased water uptake and susceptibility to hydrolysis. AEMs with graft copolymers that composed of anion-conducting 2-methyl-N-vinylimidazolium (Im) and hydrophobic styrene (St) units were employed. We characterized two new structures in these AEMs using a small-angle neutron scattering with a contrast variation method. (1) The distribution of graft polymers in conducting (ion channel) or non-conducting (hydrophobic amorphous poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE)) phase was evaluated in a quantitative manner. High fraction in conducting layer for AEMs having high grafting degrees was found using the proposed structural model of "conducting/non-conducting two-phase system". (2) Assuming a hard-sphere fluid model, we found AEMs having high St contents and low alkaline durability possessed nanophase-separated water puddles with diameters of 3-4 nm. The AEM having a low St content and the best alkaline durability did not show evident nanophase separation. The above hierarchical structures elucidate the unexpected reverse relationships that the AEM having highly hydrophobic graft polymers was subjected to the morphological transition to give water puddles at nanoscale. The imidazolium groups that were located at the boundary between graft polymers and water puddles should be susceptible to hydrolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimio Yoshimura
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan.
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10
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Date B, Han J, Park S, Park EJ, Shin D, Ryu CY, Bae C. Synthesis and Morphology Study of SEBS Triblock Copolymers Functionalized with Sulfonate and Phosphonate Groups for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bhagyashree Date
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Junyoung Han
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Sungmin Park
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Eun Joo Park
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Dongwon Shin
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Chang Y. Ryu
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Chulsung Bae
- Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
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11
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Basutkar MN, Samant S, Strzalka J, Yager KG, Singh G, Karim A. Through-Thickness Vertically Ordered Lamellar Block Copolymer Thin Films on Unmodified Quartz with Cold Zone Annealing. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:7814-7823. [PMID: 29136475 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b04028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Template-free directed self-assembly of ultrathin (approximately tens of nanometers) lamellar block copolymer (l-BCP) films into vertically oriented nanodomains holds much technological relevance for the fabrication of next-generation devices from nanoelectronics to nanomembranes due to domain interconnectivity and high interfacial area. We report for the first time the formation of full through-thickness vertically oriented lamellar domains in 100 nm thin polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) films on quartz substrate, achieved without any PMMA-block wetting layer formation, quartz surface modification (templating chemical, topographical) or system modifications (added surfactant, top-layer coat). Vertical ordering of l-BCPs results from the coupling between a molecular and a macroscopic phenomenon. A molecular relaxation induced vertical l-BCP ordering occurs under a transient macroscopic vertical strain field, imposed by a high film thermal expansion rate under sharp thermal gradient cold zone annealing (CZA-S). The parametric window for vertical ordering is quantified via a coupling constant, C (= v∇T), whose range is established in terms of a thermal gradient (∇T) above a threshold value, and an optimal dynamic sample sweep rate (v ∼ d/τ), where τ is the l-BCP's longest molecular relaxation time and d is the Tg,heat - Tg,cool distance. Real-time CZA-S morphology evolution of vertically oriented l-BCP tracked along ∇T using in situ grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) exhibited an initial formation phase of vertical lamellae, a polygrain structure formation stage, and a grain coarsening phase to fully vertically ordered l-BCP morphology development. CZA-S is a roll-to-roll manufacturing method, rendering this template-free through-thickness vertical ordering of l-BCP films highly attractive and industrially relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monali N Basutkar
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Saumil Samant
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Joseph Strzalka
- X-Ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Kevin G Yager
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Gurpreet Singh
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Alamgir Karim
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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12
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Yoshimura K, Zhao Y, Hasegawa S, Hiroki A, Kishiyama Y, Shishitani H, Yamaguchi S, Tanaka H, Koizumi S, Appavou MS, Radulescu A, Richter D, Maekawa Y. Imidazolium-based anion exchange membranes for alkaline anion fuel cells: (2) elucidation of the ionic structure and its impact on conducting properties. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:8463-8473. [PMID: 29090306 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01774j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In our previous study (Soft Matter, 2016, 12, 1567), the relationship between the morphology and properties of graft-type imidazolium-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) was revealed, in that the semi-crystalline features of the polymer matrix maintain its mechanical properties and the formation of interconnected hydrophilic domains promotes the membrane conductivity. Here, we report a novel ionic structure of the same graft-type AEMs with different grafting degrees, analyzed using a small-angle X-ray scattering method under different relative humidity (RH) conditions. The characteristic "ionomer peak" with a corresponding correlation distance of approximately 1.0 nm was observed at RH < 80%. This distance is much smaller than the literature-reported mean distance between two ionic clusters, but close to the Bjerrum length of water. Since the representative number of water molecules per cation, nw, was small, we proposed that dissociated ion-pairs are distributed in the hydrophilic domains (ion-channels). At RH < 80%, ion-channels are disconnected, however in liquid water, they are well-connected as evidenced by the sharp increase in nw. The disconnected ion-channels even under relatively high RH conditions should be a substantial factor for the low power generation efficiency of AEM-type fuel cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimio Yoshimura
- Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Watanuki-machi 1233, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan.
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13
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Abstract
In this comprehensive review, recent progress and developments on perfluorinated sulfonic-acid (PFSA) membranes have been summarized on many key topics. Although quite well investigated for decades, PFSA ionomers' complex behavior, along with their key role in many emerging technologies, have presented significant scientific challenges but also helped create a unique cross-disciplinary research field to overcome such challenges. Research and progress on PFSAs, especially when considered with their applications, are at the forefront of bridging electrochemistry and polymer (physics), which have also opened up development of state-of-the-art in situ characterization techniques as well as multiphysics computation models. Topics reviewed stem from correlating the various physical (e.g., mechanical) and transport properties with morphology and structure across time and length scales. In addition, topics of recent interest such as structure/transport correlations and modeling, composite PFSA membranes, degradation phenomena, and PFSA thin films are presented. Throughout, the impact of PFSA chemistry and side-chain is also discussed to present a broader perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Kusoglu
- Energy Conversion Group, Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , 1 Cyclotron Road, MS70-108B, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Adam Z Weber
- Energy Conversion Group, Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , 1 Cyclotron Road, MS70-108B, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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14
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Block copolymer thin films: Characterizing nanostructure evolution with in situ X-ray and neutron scattering. POLYMER 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.06.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Shelton CK, Jones RL, Dura JA, Epps TH. Tracking Solvent Distribution in Block Polymer Thin Films during Solvent Vapor Annealing with in Situ Neutron Scattering. Macromolecules 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b02046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron K. Shelton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ‡Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Materials Science and Engineering Division and ∥NIST Center for
Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Ronald L. Jones
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ‡Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Materials Science and Engineering Division and ∥NIST Center for
Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Joseph A. Dura
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ‡Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Materials Science and Engineering Division and ∥NIST Center for
Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Thomas H. Epps
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ‡Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Materials Science and Engineering Division and ∥NIST Center for
Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
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16
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Asad Ayoubi M, Almdal K, Zhu K, Nyström B, Olsson U, Piculell L. Self-assembly of block copolymer-based ionic supramolecules based upon multi-tail amphiphiles. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra03220b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), self-assembly of ionic supramolecules based upon diblock copolymers of poly(styrene)-b-poly(methacrylic acid) and multi-tail (2- or 4-tail) alkyl quaternary ammonium amphiphiles is investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Asad Ayoubi
- Division of Physical Chemistry
- Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Lund University
- SE-22 100 Lund
- Sweden
| | - K. Almdal
- Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology
- Technical University of Denmark
- DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby
- Denmark
| | - K. Zhu
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Oslo
- N-0315 Oslo
- Norway
| | - B. Nyström
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Oslo
- N-0315 Oslo
- Norway
| | - U. Olsson
- Division of Physical Chemistry
- Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Lund University
- SE-22 100 Lund
- Sweden
| | - L. Piculell
- Division of Physical Chemistry
- Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Lund University
- SE-22 100 Lund
- Sweden
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17
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Neutron Techniques as a Probe of Structure, Dynamics, and Transport in Polyelectrolyte Membranes. NEUTRON SCATTERING APPLICATIONS AND TECHNIQUES 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-06656-1_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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18
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Inceoglu S, Rojas AA, Devaux D, Chen XC, Stone GM, Balsara NP. Morphology-Conductivity Relationship of Single-Ion-Conducting Block Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries. ACS Macro Lett 2014; 3:510-514. [PMID: 35590717 DOI: 10.1021/mz5001948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A significant limitation of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries arises because most of the ionic current is carried by the anion, the ion that does not participate in energy-producing reactions. Single-ion-conducting block copolymer electrolytes, wherein all of the current is carried by the lithium cations, have the potential to dramatically improve battery performance. The relationship between ionic conductivity and morphology of single-ion-conducting poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrenesulfonyllithium(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (PEO-PSLiTFSI) diblock copolymers was studied by small-angle X-ray scattering and ac impedance spectroscopy. At low temperatures, an ordered lamellar phase is obtained, and the "mobile" lithium ions are trapped in the form of ionic clusters in the glassy polystyrene-rich microphase. An increase in temperature results in a thermodynamic transition to a disordered phase. Above this transition temperature, the lithium ions are released from the clusters, and ionic conductivity increases by several orders of magnitude. This morphology-conductivity relationship is very different from all previously published data on published electrolytes. The ability to design electrolytes wherein most of the current is carried by the lithium ions, to sequester them in nonconducting domains and release them when necessary, has the potential to enable new strategies for controlling the charge-discharge characteristics of rechargeable lithium batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebnem Inceoglu
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Adriana A. Rojas
- Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Didier Devaux
- Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - X. Chelsea Chen
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Greg M. Stone
- Malvern Instruments Inc., 117 Flanders Road, Westborough, Massachusetts 01581, United States
| | - Nitash P. Balsara
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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19
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Narimani R, Yang ACC, Tsang EMW, Rubatat L, Holdcroft S, Frisken BJ. Controlling Water Content and Proton Conductivity through Copolymer Morphology. Macromolecules 2013. [DOI: 10.1021/ma402008b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rasoul Narimani
- Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Ami C. C. Yang
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Emily M. W. Tsang
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Laurent Rubatat
- UMR IPREM 5256, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Pau, France
| | - Steven Holdcroft
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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20
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Lee V, Hawa T. Investigation of the effect of bilayer membrane structures and fluctuation amplitudes on SANS/SAXS profile for short membrane wavelength. J Chem Phys 2013; 139:124905. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4821816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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21
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22
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Beers KM, Balsara NP. Design of Cluster-free Polymer Electrolyte Membranes and Implications on Proton Conductivity. ACS Macro Lett 2012; 1:1155-1160. [PMID: 35607186 DOI: 10.1021/mz300389f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nanoscale ionic aggregates are ubiquitous in copolymers containing charged and uncharged monomers. In most cases, these clusters persist when these polymers are hydrated and ion-conducting channels percolate through the sample. We argue that these clusters impede ion motion due to (1) the requirement that ions must hop across ion-free regions in the channels as they are transported from one cluster to the next, and (2) increased counterion condensation due to proximity of fixed acid groups in the clusters. Block copolymers wherein the size of the ion-containing microphase is 6 nm or less provides one approach for eliminating the clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Beers
- Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Nitash P. Balsara
- Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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23
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Eastman SA, Kim S, Page KA, Rowe BW, Kang S, Soles CL, Yager KG. Effect of Confinement on Structure, Water Solubility, and Water Transport in Nafion Thin Films. Macromolecules 2012. [DOI: 10.1021/ma301289v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Eastman
- Polymers
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899, United States
| | - Sangcheol Kim
- Polymers
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899, United States
| | - Kirt A. Page
- Polymers
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899, United States
| | - Brandon W. Rowe
- Polymers
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899, United States
| | - Shuhui Kang
- Polymers
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899, United States
| | - Christopher L. Soles
- Polymers
Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland
20899, United States
| | - Kevin G. Yager
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
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24
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Wood TJ, Badyal JPS. Pulsed plasmachemical deposition of highly proton conducting composite sulfonic acid-carboxylic acid films. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2012; 4:1675-1682. [PMID: 22409149 DOI: 10.1021/am2018207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Graft polymerization of sulfonic acid monomers onto structurally well-defined pulsed plasma poly(maleic anhydride) layers yields a composite carboxylic acid-sulfonic acid network. These bifunctional films are shown to exhibit high proton conductivity (125 mS cm(-1)) as well as good stability in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Wood
- Department of Chemistry, Science Laboratories, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, England, United propylKingdom
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25
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Page KA, Rowe BW. An Overview of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications. POLYMERS FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND DELIVERY: POLYELECTROLYTES FOR BATTERIES AND FUEL CELLS 2012. [DOI: 10.1021/bk-2012-1096.ch009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kirt A. Page
- Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
| | - Brandon W. Rowe
- Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
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26
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Yakovlev S, Wang X, Ercius P, Balsara NP, Downing KH. Direct imaging of nanoscale acidic clusters in a polymer electrolyte membrane. J Am Chem Soc 2011; 133:20700-3. [PMID: 22107080 PMCID: PMC4224285 DOI: 10.1021/ja209240d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
One of the factors hindering the development of technologies that rely on the use of proton-conducting polyelectrolyte membranes is the lack of control over the membrane morphology on the nanoscale. Of particular importance is the rearrangement and clustering of acidic groups, which may seriously degrade the electrical properties. Although electron microscopy is capable of imaging the morphology of the clusters, images of unmodified membranes with sufficient quality to discriminate between different proposed cluster morphology models have not been presented. Here we show the first determination of the cluster size distribution in a model polymer electrolyte membrane from electron micrographs of individual acidic clusters. Imaging of the sulfur-rich clusters by dark-field microscopy was facilitated by the spontaneous formation of thin, cluster-containing layers on the top and bottom surfaces of free-standing films with a thickness of ~35 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Yakovlev
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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27
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Ahn H, Park MJ. Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Functional Gold Nanoparticle-Polymer Hybrids Using Ionic Block Copolymers as a Nanoreactor. Macromol Rapid Commun 2011; 32:1790-7. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201100449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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28
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Kim SY, Yoon E, Joo T, Park MJ. Morphology and Conductivity in Ionic Liquid Incorporated Sulfonated Block Copolymers. Macromolecules 2011. [DOI: 10.1021/ma200278c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sung Yeon Kim
- Division of Advanced Materials Science (WCU) and ‡Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea 790-784
| | - Eunjin Yoon
- Division of Advanced Materials Science (WCU) and ‡Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea 790-784
| | - Taiha Joo
- Division of Advanced Materials Science (WCU) and ‡Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea 790-784
| | - Moon Jeong Park
- Division of Advanced Materials Science (WCU) and ‡Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea 790-784
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