About the Seminar:

Proton-exchange membranes (PEMs) serve a critical role in fuel cells, a green energy technology aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but currently this technology relies on environmentally hazardous, poor-performing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-based ionomers. PEMs must have hydrophilic domains able to transport charged particles between electrodes, closing the circuit, as well as hydrophobic domains that provide a barrier against the crossover of reactants and preventing undesirable side reactions. This work proposes utilizing sulfonated, chemically recyclable polyesters as proton-exchange membranes. The stable 1,3-cyclobutane backbone of these polyesters has previously been shown to imbue the desirable thermal, mechanical, and chemical characteristics needed for the hydrophobic domain in the PEM. With a new synthetic strategy these materials can be precisely sulfonated enabling tunable ion-exchange capacity while retaining their material properties and chemical recyclability, providing a better performing and sustainable alternative to PEMs currently available .