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Polymers and Nanoscience and Technology

Polymers and nanoscience & technology are very much interrelated. One of the intrinsic length scales of polymers is the nanoscale and therefore much of the design of polymeric materials is concerned with control of structure and properties on that length scale. We have a number of programmes which are overlay the current Governement led initiative in nano science and technology.

Power

The Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell is now beginning to approach viability However, the costs associated with fuel cell technology are still at least an order of magnitude too high for widespread acceptance in the automotive field. The fuel cell component which currently controls both cost and performance in this type of power source is the membrane-electrode assembly, comprising a thin film of proton-conducting ionomer laminated on each side to a layer of transition-metal catalyst and thence to a porous gas-diffusion electrode. Current work at Reading is focused on the development of new types of the essential membrane materials with a particular focus on reducing costs.

 

Supercapacitors are essential for the effective development of electric vehicles. They allow rapid charging and discharging to take place and thus are effective in the power optimisation in electric vehicles and in the use of hybrid power-trains. Currently, a number of small scale high performance supercapacitors have become available commercially for use in relatively low power electronic applications. However, it is difficult to envisage how such existing devices can be economically scaled-up for exploitation in large vehicles. Work at Reading has led to the development of a new low cost approach to the production of nitrogen containing high surface area carbon nano particles. When these are incorporated in to prototype supercapacitors they exhibit power densities which are in excess of current industry targets.

Smart materials

We have discovered how nano and micro conducting particles can be dispersed in deformable media to yield materials whose electrical conductivities remarkably increases rather decreases upon deformation. We are exploring the potential for these novel materials as sensors and for use in smart textiles.

The development of molecular sized wires has been a key target in the field of molecular electronics and current work at Reading is making considerable inroads towards realising this target. The approach taken is to polymerise within a nanostructured tempate with very well defined porous columns. The approach has considerable flexibility and a range of wires can be prepared.

Nanocomposites

There is world-wide interest in the inclusion of nano-particles in synthetic polymers to enhance existing and define new properties. We are exploiting the expertise at Reading in time-resolving x-ray and neutron scattering techniques to develop an understanding of how nano-particles such as clays are mixed and exfoliated within a polymer matrix during flow.

We have discovered how small quantities of a low molar mass compund can be dispersed in polymers including biodegradable systems to provide a self-assembling nanoscale framework which directs the subsequent crystallisation to yield high levels of crystal orientation. This control can have a marked influence on the properties of the final material. We are exploring this new approach in a variety of materials including those used for preparing medical implants and scaffolds.

Optical

Photonic crystals provide the analogous properties for light as semi-conductors provide for electrons. Self-assembly is seen as the key in this materials demanding area. We are developing novel polymers for use in self-assembling photonic crystals for exploitation in the visible and infra-red regions spectrum

Security is a vital area in today's society and we have initiated a major programme to develop novel security devices which use nano-structured surfaces to define the optical properties of thin films. These are designed at the outset to have the potential for volume manufacturing to facilitate use in protecting documents, ID cards and high value goods.

 

Page last updated April 06, 2007
 
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