Organic macromolecular architectures for non-aqueous redox flow batteries

Cheng, Kevin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95504 Copy

Description

Title

Organic macromolecular architectures for non-aqueous redox flow batteries

Author(s)

Cheng, Kevin

Issue Date

2016-12-02

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Moore, Jeffrey S.

Department of Study

Chemistry

Discipline

Chemistry

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Redox Active Polymer
• Redox Active Colloid
• Redox Flow Battery

Abstract

The work presented is focused on the development of polymers and polymer architectures to create redox active materials. Here we attempt to produce an all-organic polymer battery in solution state using inexpensive Celgard separators to compete with experiencing large crossover. Our first example of such a material utilized viologen pendant groups as the redox mediator and acted as the anode material. This approach provided a system with reversible cycling efficiency (94-99%) and selective prevention of crossover (97%). In the attempt to form a full cell, a ferrocene-based polymer was synthesized as the cathode material. This polymer allowed us to demonstrate our first example of a full polymer battery in non-aqueous solvent. In efforts to improve anode performance, a poly-4-nitrostyrene was synthesized and achieved an increased voltage of 0.9 V over the previous viologen system. To circumvent the limited size of polymers and other macromolecules, we synthesized polymer colloids of polyvinylbenzyl chloride and functionalized them to incorporate viologen pendants. The redox active colloids performed at 99% coulombic efficiency over 50 cycles.

Graduation Semester

2016-12

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95504

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Kevin Cheng

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