Understanding Nanoconfinement and Atom-Specific Correlations to Manipulate Molecular and Ion Transport

Polymer-based transport media form essential and rate-limiting components in a wide range of technologies that include water purifiers, batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers. Our group has uncovered critical aspects of nanoconfined transport in ionic polymer-based electrolytes by combining temperature- and composition-dependent NMR with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, leading to new paths of thought for electrolyte design. Electrophoretic NMR (ENMR) along with NMR spectroscopy and diffusometry give unprecedented access to ion-specific transport processes and local ion and surrounding matrix dynamics, from liquids to solids and everything in between. I will discuss example systems (including solid-polymer Li+ battery electrolytes, H-bonding liquids, and water-bearing membranes) that build bridges between liquid-like and solid-like transport, thus motivating new compositions and new morphologies for polymer-based electrolytes and separations technologies.