Pathways for Superionic Transport in Polymer Blend Electrolytes

Benjamin A. Paren
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Engineering
Stevens Institute of Technology

Abstract: Single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SICs) present an opportunity to improve the safety and performance of batteries or other electrochemical devices. This talk focuses on correlating nanoscale morphology with ion transport in single-cation conducting polymers, in particular blend SICs, which leverage the ion transport of a mobile solvating polymer with the safety and stability of the SIC. Experimental techniques such as X-ray scattering and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy are used to highlight the ability of percolated or interconnected aggregates to serve as pathways for decoupled metal cation transport. Superionic transport, whereby the cations move faster than polymer backbone, is also explored. This conduction mechanism is required to overcome the current conductivity limit in a variety of ion-containing polymeric systems, and is critical for developing design rules for the next generation of polymer electrolytes.

Biography: Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Paren is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Stevens Institute of Technology. Paren’s research seeks solutions to challenges in electrochemical energy storage and conversion through the design and characterization of new polymer electrolytes, in particular correlating nanoscale structure and dynamics with bulk properties. A focus is on electrolytes for battery and fuel cell technologies that utilize resource-abundant or low-cost materials. Prior to joining Stevens in September 2023, Paren received a B.S. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) from Carnegie Mellon University, with a double major in Engineering and Public Policy. He received a Ph.D. in MSE from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed a postdoctoral appointment in the Research Laboratory of Electronics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Paren has been a finalist for awards recognizing excellence in polymer research, including the APS Frank J. Padden Award and the ACS DSM Bright Science Award.