Project Info
Polymer membranes for water, gas, and ionic transport
Daniel Knauss
dknauss@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
New polymer membrane materials are necessary for water and gas separations and for the efficient transport of ions in numerous electrochemical applications including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers. This work will prepare new polymers and evaluate their properties for electrochemical applications as well as their ability as separation membranes.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Provide access to clean water.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C7TA00905D
DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00459
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ma500993s
Primary Contacts:
Daniel Knauss, dknauss@mines.edu
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Completion of the Organic Chemistry sequence of courses. Having taken or currently enrolled in Introduction to Polymer Science is a plus.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5-6
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Polymer and organic chemistry synthesis and characterization as well as writing skills. The student will work with graduate students and independently on the preparation of new monomers and the formation of block copolymers and functionalized polymers. The new polymers will be characterized through chemical techniques and through mechanical property evaluation.
MENTORING PLAN
The student will participate in group meetings as well as weekly one-on-one meetings with the professor. Overall semester goals will be determined at the beginning of the semester and biweekly milestones will be set as discussion points for addressing progress during meetings. The student will be mentored on literature searching and individual laboratory techniques during the semester.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Junior
Senior