Acid–base core–shell microspheres are incorporated into proton exchange membranes to effectively alleviate the rapid decline in proton conductivity at low humidity

The development of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) that can avoid rapid decay of proton conductivity under low humidity is of great significance for the practical application of PEMFC. In this study, acid–base core–shell microspheres (PCSMs-MA@TAC) with a carboxylic acid core and a triazine shell were synthesized by distillation-precipitation polymerization using cross-linked carboxylic acid microspheres (PMAA) as seeds. These PCSMs were then incorporated into a sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) matrix to make hybrid membranes. Incorporation of PCSMs microspheres can not only strengthen the vehicle mechanism by increasing the water uptake of the membrane, but also the acid–base pairs formed at the SPEEK/PCSMs interface provide a new low-energy barrier pathway for proton hopping, thereby enhancing the proton conduction of the Grotthuss mechanism. The results show that when the content is 10 wt%, the proton conductivity of the SPEEK/PCSMs-MA@TAC composite membrane can reach 0.161 S cm−1 at 80°C and 100% RH, which is 19.3% higher than the SPEEK control membrane (0.135 S cm−1). In particular, even at 60% RH, the proton conductivity of the SPEEK/PCSMs-MA@TAC-10 composite membrane is still 67 mS cm−1, which is 3.16 times higher than that of the SPEEK membrane. Therefore, the SPEEK/PCSMs-MA@TAC composite membrane can maintain superior performance even under high temperature and low humidity conditions.

Practical use of polymer brushes in sustainable energy applications: interfacial nanoarchitectonics for high-efficiency devices

The discovery and development of novel approaches, materials and manufacturing processes in the field of energy are compelling increasing recognition as a major challenge for contemporary societies. The performance and lifetime of energy devices are critically dependent on nanoscale interfacial phenomena. From the viewpoint of materials design, the improvement of current technologies inevitably relies on gaining control over the complex interface between dissimilar materials. In this sense, interfacial nanoarchitectonics with polymer brushes has seen growing interest due to its potential to overcome many of the limitations of energy storage and conversion devices. Polymer brushes offer a broad variety of resources to manipulate interfacial properties and gain molecular control over the synergistic combination of materials. Many recent examples show that the rational integration of polymer brushes in hybrid nanoarchitectures greatly improves the performance of energy devices in terms of power density, lifetime and stability. Seen in this light, polymer brushes provide a new perspective from which to consider the development of hybrid materials and devices with improved functionalities. The aim of this review is therefore to focus on what polymer brush-based solutions can offer and to show how the practical use of surface-grafted polymer layers can improve the performance and efficiency of fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, organic radical batteries, supercapacitors, photoelectrochemical cells and photovoltaic devices.

Hollow polymer nanocapsules: synthesis, properties, and applications

Hollow polymer nanocapsules (HPNs) have gained tremendous interest in recent years due to their numerous desirable properties compared to their solid counterparts.

Surface-Initiated Controlled Radical Polymerization: State-of-the-Art, Opportunities, and Challenges in Surface and Interface Engineering with Polymer Brushes

The generation of polymer brushes by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization (SI-CRP) techniques has become a powerful approach to tailor the chemical and physical properties of interfaces and has given rise to great advances in surface and interface engineering. Polymer brushes are defined as thin polymer films in which the individual polymer chains are tethered by one chain end to a solid interface. Significant advances have been made over the past years in the field of polymer brushes. This includes novel developments in SI-CRP, as well as the emergence of novel applications such as catalysis, electronics, nanomaterial synthesis and biosensing. Additionally, polymer brushes prepared via SI-CRP have been utilized to modify the surface of novel substrates such as natural fibers, polymer nanofibers, mesoporous materials, graphene, viruses and protein nanoparticles. The last years have also seen exciting advances in the chemical and physical characterization of polymer brushes, as well as an ever increasing set of computational and simulation tools that allow understanding and predictions of these surface-grafted polymer architectures. The aim of this contribution is to provide a comprehensive review that critically assesses recent advances in the field and highlights the opportunities and challenges for future work.

A facile approach to fabricating organosilica layered material with sulfonic groups as an efficient filler for polymer electrolyte nanocomposites

One-pot synthesis of silica layered nanofillers decorated by sulfonic groups and their use for nafion nanocomposites with improved conductivity.