Fuel cell comprising a composite membrane
OwnerBamdad Bahar, Alex R. Hobson +2inventors
InventorsBamdad Bahar, Alex R. Hobson, Jeffrey A. Kolde, Robert S. Mallouk
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Abstract
A fuel cell comprising at least one composite membrane which includes a porous support impregnated with ion exchange resin to make the pores of the support occlusive, wherein the thickness of the composite membrane is less than 0.025 mm. The membrane is strong and has good ionic conductivity. Methods of making the composite membrane are also disclosed.
Claims40
A fuel cell comprising at least one integral air impermeable composite membrane comprising:
- at least one polymeric support having a microstructure of micropores, said microstructure defining a porosity in the range of about 70% to 98% within said polymeric support,
- at least one ion exchange resin filling said microstructure such that said composite membrane is air impermeable, said composite membrane having a thickness of at most 0.8 mils and an ionic conduction rate of at least 5.1 μmhos/min.
A fuel cell comprising a substantially air occlusive integral composite membrane having a polymeric support with a microstructure of pores, said microstructure filled with an ion exchange resin, said composite membrane has an ionic conduction rate of at least 5.1 μmhos/min, said composite membrane prepared by,
- (a) providing a polymeric support having a microstructure of micropores;
- (b) applying an ion exchange resin solution to said polymeric support;
- and
- (c) repeating step (b) until said micropores are sufficiently filled with ion exchange resin to form an air occlusive integral composite membrane.
A fuel cell comprising an integral air impermeable composite membrane comprising:
- a polymeric support having a microstructure of micropores, said microstructure defining a porosity in the range of about 70% to 98% within said support,
- at least one ion exchange resin filling said microstructure such that said composite membrane is air impermeable, said composite membrane having a thickness of at most 0.8 mils.
A fuel cell consisting essentially of a composite membrane consisting essentially of:
- a support having a microstructure of micropores, said microstructure defining a porosity in the range of about 20% to 98% within said support,
- at least one ion exchange resin filling said microstructure such that said composite membrane is air impermeable, said composite membrane having a thickness of at most 0.8 mils, said composite membrane being heated to 60° C. to 200° C., and said ion exchange resin being a perfluorinated sulfonic acid resin.
The fuel cell of claim 35, wherein the membrane is heated at 120° C. to 160° C.
A fuel cell comprising a composite membrane consisting essentially of:
- a support of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure of micropores, said microstructure defining a porosity in the range of about 70% to 98% within said support,
- at least one perfluorinated sulfonic acid ion exchange resin filling at least 90% of said microstructure, said composite membrane having a thickness of at most 0.8 mils, said composite membrane being heated to 60° C. to 200° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.