Dr. Anja Mueller, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859, USA

Biography: Dr Mueller is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Central Michigan University. She started her training with a Diplom (MS) in Biology from Regensburg University, Germany. She then came to the US and earned a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. In her postdoc at the University of Arizona she worked on research on drug delivery, before she started as an assistant professor at Clarkson University. She moved to Central Michigan University in 2005. Her research interests are polymeric materials for skin scaffolds for burn victims, hydrogen fuel cell membranes, and water treatment. An additional, more recent research interest is interdisciplinary education and assessment as well as active learning in Organic Chemistry.

Speech Title: Perfluorinated Block-Copolymers for Dry Proton Exchange Membranes
Abstract: Current proton exchange membranes require water and strong acid for proton transport, which limits their durability and effectiveness at high temperature. In this project we are developing a membrane that transports protons via a dry proton hopping mechanism. For this membrane a variety block-copolymers containing fluorinated blocks and imidazole as the proton transporting group were synthesized. Several combinations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks have been synthesized and characterized and their data will be presented. Initial membranes have been prepared, and mechanical strength, thermal stability, porosity, and initial proton transport data will be presented as well.