Self-healing membrane for a fuel cell
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsGustav Boehm, Florian Finsterwalder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-healing membrane, especially for using in PEM fuel cells. The membrane comprises at least one porous material which is not ion-conductive and at least one polymer, ion-conductive electrolyte which has a higher melting point or decomposition point that the porous material which is not ion-conductive. If a hole, crack or the like forms in the membrane, the porous material which is not ion-conductive melts due to the temperature rise occurring at the leaking point, before the polymer, ion-conductive electrolyte melts or decomposes and seals the membrane at this point. The inventive membrane heals occurring defects itself in this way, and is thus self-healing.
Claims13
1-7. (canceled)
A membrane for a fuel cell which comprises:
- at least one porous, non-ion-conducting material;
- and
- at least one ion-conducting electrolyte arranged and configured to fill the pores of the at least one porous, non-ion-conducting material;
- the at least one ion-conducting electrolyte comprising a polymeric electrolyte having a characteristic selected from the group consisting of a higher melting point and a higher decomposition point relative to the melting point or decomposition point of the porous, non-ion-conducting material.
A method for using an automatically sealing membrane, comprising the steps of:
- providing a membrane comprising:
- at least one porous, non-ion-conducting material;
- and
- at least one ion-conducting electrolyte arranged and configured to fill the pores of the at least one porous, non-ion-conducting material;
- the at least one ion-conducting electrolyte comprising a polymeric electrolyte having a characteristic selected from the group consisting of a higher melting point and a higher decomposition point relative to the melting point or decomposition point of the porous, non-ion-conducting material;
- and
- using the membrane provided in the previous step in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for electrochemical cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.