INTERFACIAL ION TRANSPORT IN SPATIALLY PATTERNED MICROENVIRONMENTS
Degree type
Graduate group
Discipline
Subject
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Contributor
Abstract
Ion transport within microenvironments plays a crucial role in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of interfacial reactions in electrochemical systems. This dissertation addresses two key types of interfaces relevant to ion transport. The first type involves the interface between ion-exchange membranes (IEMs), specifically bipolar membranes (BPMs) and anion exchange membranes (AEMs), and catalysts, in the context of water-based reactions occurring in electrochemical devices. The second type discusses the interface between solid substrates and liquid fuels in self-powered enzymatic micropumps. This dissertation primarily focuses on a fundamental investigation of interfacial ion transport in these two systems, along with the study of microfabrication methods to create micropatterned environments that influence ion transport.Chapter 1 provides an introductory overview of IEMs, with a particular emphasis on BPMs, briefly covering their theory, applications, and recent advances in fabrication techniques. Chapter 2 investigates the catalytic and electric field effects in three-dimensional BPMs, which feature geometrically controlled high interfacial junction areas. Chapter 3 explores a different type of micropatterned IEM, the 3D AEM, and its role in water management within fuel cell systems. Chapter 4 discusses a novel BPM system with nanosheet as catalyst to enhance the electric field effect. Chapter 5 examines the scaling effects on the performance of catalytic enzyme micropumps, contributing to the geometric considerations necessary for the future design of enzymatic pump systems. Finally, Chapter 6 presents conclusions and future directions based on the findings discussed in the dissertation. By gaining a fundamental understanding of interfacial ion transport in these membranes and pump system, this research offers insights into the development of more efficient electrochemical systems and devices. Moreover, a more detailed understanding of the microenvironment and ion movement occurring in the BPM and AEM systems could provide a platform for optimizing electrochemical technologies related to energy storage and conversion, contributing to solutions for the global energy crisis.