The hierarchical structure of a polymer electrolyte membrane for energy conversion and storage devices such as fuel cells and water electrolysis, prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization, was investigated in a range of sub- to several hundred-nanometer using the combination of a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) contrast variation / partial scattering functions (PSF) method, atomic force microscopy, and simulations. Toward applying to Materials Informatics (MI), the structural models are constructed from the analyzed structures to reveal several phase-separated structures, relating to ion conductivity and mechanical properties, which are the required characteristics for practical fuel cells. In addition, I will briefly introduce recent outcomes, relating to quantum technology, medical and agricultural applications in TIAQ, QST.
Dr. Jitae Park
Dr. Theresia Heiden-Hecht