Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led by Austin Dick and including Xiao Tong, Kim Kisslinger, Carlos E. Colosqui, and Gregory Doerk, have developed a new method for controlling the electrokinetic properties of polymer surfaces. This innovation could have significant implications for various industries, including water purification, ion separations, and energy conversion. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
The team demonstrated a simple liquid-phase infiltration (LPI) method to create polymer-metal oxide hybrid films with tunable interfacial properties. The process involves infiltrating hydroxy-terminated poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP-OH) brushes, which are grafted to silicon substrates, with iron nitrate from an ethanolic solution. This is followed by a low-temperature thermal treatment to convert the infiltrated precursor into iron oxide. The researchers confirmed the successful incorporation of the oxide and the formation of hybrid films without polymer degradation using spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis.
The key finding of this research is that the hybrid films acquire the electrokinetic properties of the infiltrated oxide. This means that the streaming potentials and surface conductivities of the hybrid films can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of the infiltrated oxide, matching those of pure iron oxide films. This ability to systematically control polymer surface charge and associated electrokinetic processes is a significant advancement in the field.
The practical applications of this research are vast. For the energy sector, this method could lead to the development of advanced membranes and electrokinetic harvesting devices, which are crucial for energy conversion and storage. Additionally, the approach introduces new materials and design parameters for tailoring ion selectivity and transport, which are essential for various energy-related processes. The researchers suggest that this scalable and low-cost strategy could have broad implications for the development of polymer-supported oxide electrodes, further enhancing the potential applications in the energy industry.
In summary, the team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel method for controlling the electrokinetic properties of polymer surfaces, which could have significant implications for the energy sector. By enabling the systematic control of polymer surface charge and associated electrokinetic processes, this research opens up new possibilities for the development of advanced materials and devices for energy conversion and storage.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.