(212e) Designing Charged Membranes for Energy Applications

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency underscores the critical need for innovative materials and technologies to address these concerns. Membranes with advanced functionalities stand out for their potential to revolutionize energy storage in flow batteries, enable osmotic power extraction, improve water desalination processes, and more. This presentation, part of the faculty candidate series, will highlight my contributions to developing nanoscale materials for energy applications during my tenure as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago and as a member of the AMEWS Energy Frontier Research Center.
I will begin by discussing design strategies for mesoporous membranes for osmotic power extraction. I will examine the molecular mechanisms that limit osmotic power harvesting and some strategies we envision could address these obstacles. In particular, I will focus on the importance of ionic current rectification (ICR), its origins, and methodologies for enhancing ICR without sacrificing total power output.
Subsequently, I will review my contributions to understanding the relationship between water uptake and ionic conductivity in ion-exchange membranes (IEMs). I will address what we found to be a near-universal correlation between water's hydrogen bond network percolation and the emergence of continuous low electric resistance pathways. Finally, I will propose possible approaches to decouple hydration from conductivity, potentially unlocking new avenues for enhancing IEM performance.
To conclude, I will briefly outline my scientific vision for the future of membrane technology in energy-water applications, emphasizing potential research directions and innovations I will explore as a new faculty member.