(5b) Functional Nanoassemblies for Electrochemical Energy Conversion Devices

The increasing global focus on alternative energy sources has led to a renewed interest in electrochemical devices such as batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, and fuel cells. All electrochemical energy originates from the transfer of electrons and ions at interfaces, and it is crucial to study these nanoscale interfaces via unique integration of electrochemistry and polymer engineering. The alternating adsorption of oppositely charged molecular species, known as the electrostatic layer-by-layer technique, is a simple and elegant method of constructing highly tailored ultrathin polymer films and organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites. We have utilized this method to engineer a number of functional thin film systems, including the use of conjugated polymers for electrochromic displays, the formation of thin films as proton exchange membranes in fuel cells, and the use of these multilayers in other electrochemical energy devices.