Zhou Zhou - PhD student (2024 - present)
Zhou Zhou is a PhD student starting in October 2024 under the supervision of Dr Qilei Song. She completed her BEng in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Jilin University. She then studied for her MEng in the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University, during which she spent a term as a research student in Organic Chemistry at University of Barcelona. Her PhD research project will focus on the design and synthesis of microporous polymer membranes for electrochemical energy conversion and storage.
Email: zhou.zhou24@imperial.ac.uk
Brief Introduction to PhD Research
Ion exchange membranes (IEMs) are crucial in energy conversion and storage devices. They have unique functions to separate electrolytes and selectively transfer ions. However, challenges such as low ionic conductivity, high swelling rate and low selectivity are still unsolved. My research aims to address these limitations with new polymer designs.
Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are a unique class of polymers with great promise for preparing next-generation of ion-exchange membranes. PIM polymers consist of subnanometer channels that allow fast transport of ions through active sites and reduce resistances. Zhou's PhD project will focus on the development of new PIM polymers with functionalised and structured rigid molecular blocks to tailor the polymer physics and as well as functional groups to tune the binding and transport of ions. The polymer membranes will be integrated in a wide range of electrochemical devices, including including flow batteries, fuel cells, and water electrolyzers.