Compositions for energy conversion and storage and methods of making the same
The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a first layer that includes a polymer having a repeat unit with a structure that includes where m is between 2 and 100, inclusively, the repeat unit is protonated at at least one of position A) and/or B) and/or sulfonated at at least one of rings 1) and/or 2), R 1 includes at least one of a lone pair of electrons, a covalent bond, hydrogen, and/or a hydrocarbon functional group, R 2 includes at least one of a lone pair of electrons, a covalent bond, hydrogen, and/or a hydrocarbon functional group, and is a covalent bond.
1 . A composite layer comprising:
a first layer consisting of a polymer;
a second layer consisting of a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer; and
a support layer, wherein:
the first layer is positioned adjacent to the second layer,
the support layer is positioned adjacent to the first layer or the second layer,
the polymer has a repeat unit comprising
m is between 2 and 100, inclusively, and
the repeat unit is sulfonated at at least one of rings 1), 2), or 3).
2 . The composite layer of claim 1 , wherein the repeat unit comprises a molecular weight between 100 g/mol and 350 g/mol, inclusively.
3 . The composite layer of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has an average thickness between 1 μm and 1000 μm, inclusively.
4 . The composite layer of claim 3 , wherein the first layer comprises a vanadium permeability of less than 2.0×10 −11 cm 2 /min.
5 . The composite layer of claim 4 , wherein the first layer comprises a proton conductivity between 100 mS/cm and 300 mS/cm when measured immersed in an acidic electrolyte.
6 . The composite layer of claim 3 , wherein the first layer comprises a tensile strength greater than 100 MPa.
7 . The composite layer of claim 6 , wherein the first layer further comprises a Young's modulus greater than 3000 MPa.
8 . The composite layer of claim 1 , wherein the repeat unit further comprises an anion.
9 . The composite layer of claim 8 , wherein the anion comprises at least one of H 2 PO 4 − , SO 4 2− , or HSO 4 − .
10 . The composite layer of claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises at least one of a fiberglass or polyethylene terephthalate.
11 . The composite layer of claim 1 , wherein ring 3) is sulfonated.
12 . A flow battery comprising the composite layer of claim 1 , wherein the flow battery is characterized by a coulombic efficiency of greater than 99.5%.