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Sulfate is abundant in the environment and, as a result, sulfate-containing minerals constitute a large and important focus of research. These minerals play an important role in many geochemical and industrial processes, including the sulfur cycle, the construction industry (e.g., plaster of Paris), fault tectonics, acid mine drainage, and even rare biominerals. Important to note are the abundant amounts of sulfate (minerals) located on the surface of Mars, and in meteorites, extending the relevance of this mineral group beyond the realm of our planet. In geological systems, sulfate minerals such as barite are also important for indicating certain sedimentation environments. In this regard, sulfate deposits can be used to evaluate the redox state of ancient oceans during early Earth time periods.
High-entropy alloys containing up to 6 platinum group metals can be prepared by thermal decomposition of single-source precursors non requiring high temperature. We prepare the first example of a single-phase hexagonal high-entropy alloy. Heat treat- ment up to 1500 K and compression up to 45 GPa do not result in phase changes, a record temperature and pres- sure stability for a single-phase high-entropy alloy. The alloys show pronounced electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation, which opens a route for the use of high-entropy alloys as materials for sustainable energy conversion.
High and medium entropy alloys gained increasing academic and industrial interest as novel materials for engineering applications. This project is aiming to clarify and compare the general and local corrosion properties of high entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi and medium entropy alloy CrCoNi in different aqueous environments. The focus lies on the local corrosion processes that result either from microstructural imperfections (inclusions, defects at grain boundaries etc.) in the base material or processing related changes in the microstructure and/or local composition.
The corrosion behavior of the alloys was monitored via potentiodynamic polarization experiments and the local corrosion characteristics were further investigated by means of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Their passivation behavior was analyzed in three different electrolyte systems (NaCl, H2SO4 and NaClO4; c = 0.1M). The characterization of the surface morphology and composition of the passive film was performed by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively.
Considering long term corrosion effects, electrochemical work was supported with immersion tests and the analysis of corrosion products by SEM/EDX and XPS depth-profiling. Our results indicate that the medium entropy alloy CrCoNi has a significantly higher corrosion resistance in comparison to the high entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi. The presentation will summarize some of our results on the mechanistical aspects of the observed high corrosion resistance.
Monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles as reference material candidate for particle size measurements
(2020)
In order to utilize and rationally design materials at the nanoscale the reliable characterization of their physico-chemical properties is highly important, especially with respect to the assessment of their environmental or biological impact. Furthermore, the European Commission’s REACH Regulations require the registration of nanomaterials traded in quantities of at least 1 ton. Powders or dispersions where 50% (number distribution) of the constituent particles have sizes ≤ 100 nm in at least one dimension are defined as nanomaterials. This creates a need for industrial manufacturers and research or analytical service facilities to reliably characterize potential nanomaterials. Currently, BAM is developing reference nanoparticles, which shall expand the scarce list of worldwide available nano reference materials certified for particle size distribution and will also target other key parameters like shape, structure, porosity or functional properties. In this respect, materials like iron oxide or titanium dioxide are considered as candidates to complement the already available silica, Au, Ag, and polystyrene reference nanoparticles.
The thermal decomposition of iron oleate precursors in high boiling organic solvents can provide large quantities of iron oxide nanoparticles that can be varied in size and shape.[1, 2] The presence of oleic acid or other hydrophobic ligands as capping agents ensures stable dispersion in nonpolar solvents. Such monodisperse, spherical particles were synthesized at BAM and pre-characterized by electron microscopy (TEM, SEM including the transmission mode STEM-in-SEM) and dynamic light scattering comparing cumulants analysis and frequency power spectrum.
1. REACH regulations and nanosafety concerns create a strong need for nano reference materials with diverse properties.
2. Iron oxide nanoparticles are under development as new candidate reference material at BAM.
3. Narrow particle size distribution confirmed by light scattering and electron microscopy.
Up to now, different analytical methods for single cell analysis exist focusing on key features such as size, shape, morphology and elemental composition. The combination of the latest ICP-MS techniques - ICP-ToF-MS - together with the latest developments in the field of sample delivery - micro droplet generator (MDG) – will allow a Deep insight into the composition and size of cells.
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is an oxidation of metals affected by the presence or activity (or both) of microorganisms e.g. Shewanella Putrefaciens in biofilms on the surface of the corroding material. As this can happen for example in the soil on iron pipes of water pipes, in oil tanks or on steel sheet piling, there is great interest in MIC research, not only from various industrial sectors, but also from the environmental aspect.
As the most electronegative element, fluorine has a strong influence on material properties such as absorption behaviour or chemical and thermal stability. Fluorine can be easily integrated into coordination polymers (CPs) via a fluorinated acetate, here trifluoroacetate in Ba(CF3COO)2, or directly via a metal fluorine bond (BaF(CH3COO)). In the present study both possibilities of fluorine integration were tested and their effect on structure and properties of barium coordination polymers was investigated in comparison with the non-fluorinated barium acetate (Ba(CH3COO)2). In addition to the study of their thermal behaviour and their decomposition temperature, the CPs structures were tested for their application as possible anode materials in lithium ion batteries and for their sorption of water and ammonia. The properties of the CPs can be traced back to the individual structural motifs and could thus trigger new design ideas for CPs in LIBs and/or catalysis.
Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as a chemical precursor to deposit ultra-thin SiO x C y plasma polymer films onto mild steel surfaces for preventing the corrosion process. The structure–property relationships of the coatings were evaluated by X-ray Photo Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) completed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs confirmed a pinhole-free surface morphology of the low-pressure deposited plasma polymer films. The TEOS molecules become fragmented in the plasma by numerous collisions with energy-rich electrons and heavier particles. Recombination of fragments and condensation onto the steel substrate is responsible for the formation of organic SiO containing plasma polymer layers. Such thin layers consist of predominantly SiO x structures. Their properties are determined largely by the gap distance between the two samples used as electrodes in the plasma. The efficiency of the corrosion-protecting coating was compared with uncoated samples. The corrosion protection was determined by exposure of samples to 3.5% NaCl aqueous solutions. For this purpose, polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were used to monitor the corrosion. The optimal gap distance between the electrodes was determined for corrosion protection. The best protective efficiency reached more than 97% of the total protection as measured at room temperature.
The synthesis and optimization of superior and eco-friendly sorbents for Pb(II) pose a great challenge in the field of water treatment. The sorbent was developed by introducing graphene oxide (GO) into the matrix of polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foam. The immobilization of GO in PVF results in significant increase in the maximum adsorption capacity (Qt) of GO powder for Pb(II), from ≈800 to ≈1730 mg g−1 in the case of GO/PVF foam. As compared with GO powder in Pb(II) aqueous solutions, PVF matrix keeps GO sheets stable without any agglomeration. The large surface area of GO sheet allows the abundant oxygenated functional groups on its surface to participate effectively in the Pb(II) adsorption process, leading to the huge increase of the Qt. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies indicated that the sorption process of Pb(II) on GO/PVF was done on heterogenous surface by ion-exchange reaction. The GO/PVF foam showed an excellent reusability for more than 10 cycles with almost the same efficiency and without any significant change in its physical properties.
Herein, two polyurethane oligomers were successfully synthesized using a prepolymer mixing process. The prepolymers were synthesized based on the step-growth addition polymerization of polypropylene glycol, Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. Isopropanol was functioned as the isocyanate blocking agent. Thereafter, different terpolymer emulsions were prepared by the emulsion graft copolymerization with the vinyl acetate monomer in presence of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as a vinyl monomer. The chemical structures of the synthesized oligomeric monomers were probed by FTIR spectroscopy and found to vary with the content of acrylic monomer used in the oligomer synthesis phase (i.e.hydroxyethyl acrylate or hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The topography, thermal stability, and particle size of terpolymers were investigated by SEM, TGA, and zeta potential, respectively. The TGA results demonstrated marked enhancement in thermal stability of the synthesized terpolymers up to ca. 600°C, which was concurrent with enhanced surface homogeneity and film properties as evidenced by the SEM images. These terpolymers showed also property enhancement as binders for textile pigment printing in terms of rubbing resistance, color strength and fastness to washing when compared to the commercial binders.
These judgments would provide a new competent synthesis route by introducing polyurethane acetate vinyl acrylate as the binder for use in pigment printing of cotton fabrics.
Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) with inorganic nanofillers dispersed in a polymer matrix have been widely studied from the 1990s, since the pioneering work by Toyota Central Research. The possibility of producing advanced tailor-made, light weight and low-cost materials, inspired academic and commercial research towards numerous potential applications, facilitating PNCs to become a billion-dollar global industry. The introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) to a polymer matrix is expected to result in improved properties. The outstanding performance of PNCs is determined not only by the characteristics of the used components but also by their phase morphology, including the dispersion of NPs and interfacial properties. Understanding of structure-property relationships is particularly important for polymer nanocomposites with high industrial significance, such as epoxy-based materials reinforced with inorganic nanofillers. These PNCs have been successfully adopted by the marine, automotive and aerospace industries, although they are still rarely studied on a fundamental level. Therefore, this thesis aims for a detailed understanding of the structure, molecular mobility and vitrification kinetics first, of two epoxy-based materials with different network structures and second, of the corresponding nanocomposites with different alumina-based nanofillers. The first system considered (EP/T-LDH) was based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) and taurine-modified layered double hydroxide (T-LDH) NPs. The taurine molecule bears additional functionalities that could enhance the interactions between the matrix and the nanofiller, improving the interphase formation. The seconds system (EP/BNP) was based on DGEBA and methyl tetrahydrophtalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) as a hardener, reinforced with boehmite nanoparticles (BNPs). The comparison of the two systems enables for a comparative study on the effect of different hardeners and the morphology and modification of the alumina-based nanofillers on the material behavior. The materials were investigated employing complementary techniques with different sensitivities and frequency windows. The following methodology was used: transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small – and wide – angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), calorimetry in a form of conventional DSC and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC), as well as specific heat spectroscopy (SHS) in a form of temperature modulated DSC, temperature modulated FSC and static FSC by calculating the thermal relaxation rates from the cooperativity approach. The FSC method (based on adiabatic chip calorimetry to probe micrometer-sized samples) was successfully employed in this work, exploiting all its possibilities for the first time in literature for a PNC. Moreover, a systematic analysis technique was established to overcome the problem of vague glass transition regions observed for highly loaded PNCs in the heat flow and heat capacity curves.
First, TEM, SAXS/WAXS and indirectly BDS and SHS were employed to obtain the information about the approximate morphology of the PNCs. It was found that epoxy-based materials exhibit a structural heterogeneity in a form of regions with different average crosslinking density. This was indicated by multiple-peak scattering pattern of the polymer matrix and two distinct α-processes (dynamic glass transition) related to the cooperative fluctuation of the epoxy network found by BDS and SHS. This was described for the first time for epoxy-based materials. The two α-relaxations were evidenced differently for the two systems, which is related to different network structures and dipole moments due to the employed hardeners. Nevertheless, structural heterogeneity is an intrinsic feature of these materials, independent of the type of hardener used for the network formation and nanofiller. In addition, matrix inhomogeneities were more pronounced with increasing nanoparticle content. Furthermore, a powerful new technique was applied for X-ray scattering data, using Monte Carlo fits, to describe the NPs dispersion throughout the whole sample volume (as opposed to the local investigations performed by most researches). Additional structural information of the two systems was extracted by BDS and SHS, such as qualitative and quantitative estimation of polymer segments physically adsorbed and/or chemically bonded onto the nanoparticles. Due to the immobilized character of this interphase with respect to the cooperative segmental motions, it is denoted as a rigid amorphous fraction (RAF). For instance, on the contrary to EP/BNP, for EP/T-LDH a dielectrically active process was found, related to the localized fluctuations within RAF. Moreover, the amount of RAF in EP/T-LDH was reaching up to 40 wt % of the system, whereas in EP/BNP it ranged between 1-7 wt %. In the latter case the presence of NPs was found to simultaneously increase and decrease the number of mobile segments, due to the interphase formation and changes in crosslinking density. The difference between the two systems was ascribed to the presence of additional amine functionalities in the T-LDH nanofiller.
Second, employing BDS and SHS, a systematic study on the effect of NPs on the segmental dynamics was performed. For example, depending on the nanofiller, the α-processes related to regions with higher crosslinking density was found to shift to higher and lower temperatures with increasing T-LDH and BNPs concentration, respectively. The observed difference is due to the different synergism of the polymer matrix with the nanofiller.
Third, a detailed investigation of the vitrification kinetics was performed with DSC and FSC. The concentration dependence of the glass transition temperature was found, similar to the behavior of the α-processes. It was shown that, in parallel to the detected main glass transition, epoxy-based materials can exhibit an additional low temperature vitrification mechanism. As expected from the two distinct α-processes, this behavior was however not discussed in prior studies for an unfilled network former. This finding was correlated to the structural heterogeneity evidenced by other techniques.
This thesis, dealing with an in-depth research on the epoxy-based materials that are already successfully employed in numerous applications underlines the necessity of more fundamental research in this field. It shines light on the complexity of these systems and contributes to defining how the structure-property relationships can be determined by combining multiple experimental techniques and analytical methodology.
Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, chemistry, and their potential to enable advanced materials. To effectively understand and regulate the physico-chemical properties and potential adverse effects of nanoparticles, validated measurement procedures for the various properties of nanoparticles need to be developed. While procedures for measuring nanoparticle size and size Distribution are already established, standardized methods for analysis of their surface chemistry are not yet in place, although the influence of the surface chemistry on nanoparticle properties is undisputed. In particular, storage and preparation of nanoparticles for surface analysis strongly influences the analytical results from various methods, and in order to obtain consistent results, sample preparation must be both optimized and standardized. In this contribution, we present, in detail, some standard procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analytics. In principle, nanoparticles can be deposited on a suitable substrate from suspension or as a powder. Silicon (Si) Wafers are commonly used as substrate, however, their cleaning is critical to the process. For sample preparation from suspension, we will discuss drop-casting and spin-coating, where not only the cleanliness of the substrate and purity of the suspension but also its concentration play important roles for the success of the preparation methodology.
For nanoparticles with sensitive ligand shells or coatings, deposition as powders is more suitable, although this method requires particular care in fixing the sample.
Irradiation with ultra-short (femtosecond) laser beams enables the generation of sub-wavelength laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) over large areas with controlled spatial periodicity, orientation, and depths affecting only a material layer on the sub-micrometer scale. This study reports on how fs-laser irradiation of commercially available Nb foil samples affects their superconducting behavior. DC magnetization and AC susceptibility measurements at cryogenic temperatures and with magnetic fields of different amplitude and orientation are thus analyzed and reported. This study pays special attention to the surface superconducting layer that persists above the upper critical magnetic field strength Hc2, and disappears at a higher nucleation field strength Hc3. Characteristic changes were distinguished between the surface properties of the laser-irradiated samples, as compared to the corresponding reference samples (non-irradiated). Clear correlations have been observed between the surface nanostructures and the nucleation field Hc3, which depends on the relative orientation of the magnetic field and the surface patterns developed by the laser irradiation.
Lead(II) is a toxic pollutant often found in metalcontaminated soils and wastewaters. In acidic aqueous environments, Pb(II) is highly mobile. Chemical treatment strategies of such systems therefore often include neutralization agents and metal sorbents. Since metal solubility and the retention potential of sorbents depend on the redox state of the aqueous system, we tested the efficiency of the naturally occurring redox-sensitive ferrous iron carbonate mineral siderite to remove Pb(II) from acidic aqueous solutions in batch experiments under oxic and anoxic conditions over a total of 1008 h. Siderite dissolution led to an increase in reactive solution pH from 3 to 5.3 and 6.9, while 90 and 100% of the initial aqueous Pb(II) (0.48 × 10−3 mol kg−1) were removed from the oxic and anoxic systems, respectively.
Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, combined with X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopy, indicated that under oxic conditions, Pb(II) was consumed by cerussite precipitation and inner-sphere surface complexation to secondary goethite.
Under anoxic conditions, Pb(II) was removed by the rapid precipitation of cerussite. This efficient siderite dissolution-coupled sequestration of Pb(II) into more stable solid phases demonstrates this potential method for contaminated water Treatment regardless of the redox environment.
Comprehensive Characterization of APTES Surface Modifications of Hydrous Boehmite Nanoparticles
(2020)
Hydrous boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles (BNP) show great potential as nanoscale filler for the fabrication of fiber reinforced nanocomposite materials. Notably, the particle−matrix interaction has been demonstrated to be decisive for improving the matrix-dominant mechanical properties in the past years. Tailoring the surface properties of the nanofiller enables to selectively design the interaction and thus to exploit the benefits of the nanocomposite in an optimal way. Here, an extensive study is presented on the binding of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), a common silane surface modifier, on BNP in correlation to different process parameters (concentration, time, temperature, and pH). Furthermore, a comprehensive characterization of the modified BNP was performed by using elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA-MS), and Kaiser’s test (KT). The results show an increasing monolayer formation up to a complete surface coverage with rising APTES concentration, time, and temperature, resulting in a maximal grafting density of 1.3 molecules/nm². Unspecific multilayer formation was solely observed under acidic conditions. Comparison of TGA-MS results with data recorded from EA, TGA, and KT verified that TGA-MS is a convenient and highly suitable method to elucidate the ligand binding in detail.
The catalytic potential of bismuth subsalicylate (BiSub), a commercial drug, for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide was explored by variation of co-catalyst and polymerization time. Various monofunctional phenols or carboxylic acids, aromatic ortho-hydroxy acids and diphenols were examined as potential co-catalysts. 2,2´-Dihydroxybiphenyl proved to be the most successful co-catalyst yielding weight average molecular weights (uncorrected Mw values up to 185 000) after optimization of reaction time and temperature. Prolonged heating (>1-2h) depending on catalyst concentration) caused thermal degradation. In polymerization experiments with various commercial Bi(III) salts a better alternative to BiSub was not found. By means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry a couple of unusual and unexpected transesterification reactions were discovered. Finally, the effectiveness of several antioxidants and potential catalyst poisons was explored, and triphenylphosphine was found to be an effective catalyst poison.
Development and characterization of starch film and the incorporation of silver nanoparticles
(2020)
Starch is one of the biopolymers being used for bioplastic synthesis. For production, starch can be combined with different plasticizers, starches from different plant sources and even with nanomaterials to improve or to add film properties. The challenge of adding these, e.g. in the form of silver nanoparticles (AgNp) is to determine the concentration so as to avoid impairing the properties of the film, agglomeration or altering the visual characteristics of the film. In this study, a starch film synthesis route and the incorporation of silver nanoparticles has been proposed in order not to alter the properties of the film while maintaining the transparency and a clear colour of the starch film. The results showed that the proposed synthesis route is promising, efficient, reproducible, fast and the film has good mechanical properties.
Alkali–silica reaction (ASR) is an ongoing problem that causes damage to concrete constructions and reduces their durability. Therefore, minimizing this undesired reaction is of great interest for both safety and economic reasons. Additives containing high aluminium content are very effective in reducing the release of silica and enhancing the durability of concrete; however, the mechanism for this effect is still under discussion. In this study, an enrichment of aluminium in the near‐surface region was observed for natural quartzite rock after storage in Al (OH)3 and metakaolin as aluminium sources, from which we conclude that the formation of aluminosilicate sheets of a few nanometres inhibits the silica release; this hypothesis is supported by high‐resolution spectra of Al 2p, Si 2p and O 1s.
Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) is a small footprint, ressource efficient micro-analytical tool for trace elemental determination. However, depending on the matrix TXRF is also challenging in several ways: the preparation of a representative aliquot maybe difficult for slurries, shading effects and matrix effects may occur and the applicability of an IS maybe hampered by interferences (fitting may be impaired as well) or inhomogeneities. It is therefore crucial to understand and if applicable mitigate the influence of the before mentioned phenomena. We have used the small volume approach using pL droplets to study shading in TXRF previously.Using this approach thin specimens in a favorable geometry are prepared with a well defined morphology; this way minimizing matrix effects and shading. To be used as standard it is also necessary to determine the delivered elemental amounts. Here we will present on the performance of a commercial ink-jet printer cartridge to deliver defined volumes and elemental amounts. The microscopic specimens obtained have been successfully applied to determine relative sensitivities in TXRF and prepare references to study coded apertures in grazing incidence full field micro-XRF.The homogeneous lateral distribution of analyte and IS may be probed by micro-XRF, to obtain information on alikeness of analyte and IS. To study the alikeness of the in depth distribution (film-like or particle-like) angle scans can deliver valuable data. Here we present first results on angle scans using a prototype GIXRF set up and a commercial TXRF instrument.
Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) are polymers which act as separator in an electrochemical cell and allow ionic charge flow to close the circuit. Widely used membranes are perfluorinated sulfonic-acid (PFSA) ionomers (e.g. Nafion™), a class of ion-conducting polymers with remarkable ion conductivity and chemical-mechanical stability. A nanoscopic water system around the sulfonic acid capped side-chains of the otherwise hydrophobic polymer allows the ion transport. Only approx. 14 molecules of water per sulfonic group are present in the fully hydrated state. In vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) ideally only protons are transported. The weak ion selectivity of Nafion™ is the main cause for the transportation of vanadium, briefly vanadium crossover, in VRFBs a system we have investigated more closely, lately. The consequences of crossover are a concentration imbalance and a self-discharge of the battery, which leads to a decrease of the capacity. The development of efficient energy storage systems is crucial for the transformation towards a renewable energy based economy. The VRFB has a great potential as a commercial electrochemical energy storage system due to properties including, but not limited to, no cross-contamination, a long cycle-life and a theoretically unlimited capacity. VRFB consists of two half-cells, which are linked to electrolyte tanks and separated by a membrane. The membrane plays a major role in overall cell performance. So far, vanadium transportation models, which include diffusion, migration, electroosmotic convection and pressure gradients, are inconsistent. There is no agreement in the literature on the diffusion coefficients of vanadium species (e.g. published diffusion coefficients of V2+ are located between 3.13·10-12 m²s-1 and 9.44·10-12 m²s-1) indicate that thevanadium crossover is not well understood and there is a lack on a more fundamental level. Since the membrane transport is the rate-determining step of the crossover as well as of the proton exchange it is extremely important to understand these phenomena on a fundamental level. This will eventually allow us to design better membranes. Alternative materials need to show equivalent performance compared with Nafion™ and ideally be more selective regarding ion cross-membrane transport.There are several options to approach the chemistry i.e. the interaction of dissolved and bound ions inside the confined water body of ionomeric membranes. Vanadium ions are a versatile model as UV/VIS data can be used to distinguish between the 5 species V2+, V3+, VO2+, VO2+ and V2O33+ of the electrolyte. Infrared spectroscopy has been applied to study the interaction of sulfonic groups and the ions. Molecular dynamic modeling is another approach to study the distribution and distances of ions. We now introduce X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) to study species and species changes inside Nafion™ and a novel membrane based on poly(1,1-difluoroethylene) (PVDF). We evaluated the methods and investigated the influence of irradiation, temperature and hydration on the measurements.
Vanadium redoxflow batteries (VRFB)are currently one of the most promising candidates for stationary energys torage.For large scale applications the ion conducting membranes currently in use need to be improved. Ideally,they need to become more cost efficient and selective regarding the vanadium crossover.For a better understanding of the vanadium crossover, the development of reliable analytical methods and procedures, that elucidate uptake and transport of vanadium ions in the membrane, is necessary. First, we present the uptake of V2+,V3+,VO2+, VO2+ and V2O33+ in Nafion™ and in a novel membrane based onpoly(1,1-difluoroethylene)(PVDF). In preliminary discharge/charge experiments the ETFE-based membrane, the precursor of PVDF-based membrane, performed comparable to Nafion™. The methods of choice for speciation are UV/Vis and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES). According to the results, V2O33+, formed from VO2+ and VO2+, diffuses also into the membrane. In present models, the diffusion of V2O33+ is neglected. In addition,we study whether reactions could take place inside the membranes’ nanoscopic water body using XANES. Exposing Nafion™ from one site with V3+a nd from the other site with VO2+ realized the experiment. The results verified that VO2+ was formed inside the membrane. However,in present models reactions inside the membrane are neglected, too.