Proton conductive membrane containing fullerenes
OwnerKen Tasaki, Jeffrey Gasa +2inventors
InventorsKen Tasaki, Jeffrey Gasa, Ryan Desousa, Hengbin Wang
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Abstract
A proton conducting membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising a polymer material and water-binding fullerene derivatives to reduce MeOH crossover. The membrane may further comprise cross-linking functional groups.
Claims53
A proton conducting membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) proton conducting polymer material;
- and
- (b) polyhydroxy fullerene in a concentration of between about 1% and 5% by weight and having at least one multiple cross-linking functional group for blocking methanol crossover in the direct methanol fuel cell.
A proton conducting membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) proton conducting polymer material;
- and
- (b) fullerene with multiple cross-linking functional groups and in a concentration of between about 1% and 5% by weight for blocking methanol crossover in the direct methanol fuel cell.
A proton conducting membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) proton conducting polymer material;
- and
- (b) aminofullerene with multiple cross-linking amino groups in a concentration of between about 1% and 5% by weight for blocking methanol crossover in the direct methanol fuel cell.
A proton conducting membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) proton conducting polymer material;
- and
- (b) water-binding fullerene derivatives for blocking methanol crossover in the direct methanol fuel cell.
A proton conducting membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) proton conducting polymer material;
- and
- (b) a polyhydroxy fullerene having a chemical formula of C60(OH)12 for blocking methanol crossover in the direct methanol fuel cell, wherein the concentration of the polyhydroxy fullerene is between about 1 wt % and 5 wt %, wherein the polyhydroxy fullerene further comprises at least one multiple cross-linking functional group having a hydrogen acceptor site, and wherein the polyhydroxy fullerene is chemically attached to the proton conducting polymer material.
A direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) an anode;
- (b) a cathode;
- (c) a proton conductive membrane separating the anode and the cathode, wherein the membrane comprises a solution cast of polymeric material and water-binding fullerene for blocking methanol crossover in the direct methanol fuel cell.
A direct methanol fuel cell, comprising:
- (a) an anode;
- (b) a cathode;
- and
- (c) a proton conductive membrane separating the anode and the cathode, wherein the membrane comprises a solution cast of polymeric material and polyhydroxy fullerene, wherein the concentration of the polyhydroxy fullerene is between about 1 wt % and 5 wt %, wherein the polyhydroxy fullerene has a chemical formula of C60(OH)12, wherein the polyhydroxy fullerene further comprises at least one multiple cross-linking functional group, and wherein the polyhydroxy fullerene is chemically attached to the proton conducting polymeric material.
A fullerene-polymer composite, comprising:
- (a) perfluoro polymer sulfonic acid;
- and
- (b) a derivative of fullerene, wherein at least one functional group having a hydrogen acceptor or a hydrogen donor is attached to the fullerene.
A fullerene-polymer composite, comprising:
- (a) perfluoro polymer sulfonic acid;
- and
- (b) polyhydroxy fullerene having a chemical formula of between C60(OH)2 and C60(OH)48, wherein at least one functional group having a hydrogen acceptor or a hydrogen donor is attached to the fullerene, wherein the functional group is cross-linked to at least one sulfonic group, and wherein the polyhydroxy fullerene is between about 1% and 20% by weight of the composite.
A fullerene-copolymer composite, comprising:
- (a) a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonyl fluoride;
- and
- (b) a derivative of fullerene, wherein at least one functional group having a hydrogen acceptor or a hydrogen donor is attached to the fullerene.
A fullerene-copolymer composite, comprising:
- (a) a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonyl fluoride;
- and
- (b) fullerene derivative having at least one functional group having a hydrogen donor, wherein the functional group is a base group and the fullerene derivative is between about 1% and 5% by weight of the composite, and wherein the functional group is cross-linked to at least one sulfonic group.
A method of blocking methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells, comprising the steps of:
- (a) mixing a predetermined amount of water-binding fullerene derivatives with a polymer material to produce a membrane;
- (b) separating an anode and a cathode with the membrane;
- and
- (c) operating the anode and cathode as a direct methanol fuel cell wherein the membrane promotes proton conductivity while reducing methanol crossover.
A method of blocking methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells, comprising the steps of:
- (a) solution casting a predetermined amount of an aminofullerene at least one multiple cross-linking functional group.
- (b) separating an anode and a cathode with the membrane;
- and
- (c) operating the anode and cathode as a direct methanol fuel cell wherein the membrane promotes proton conductivity while reducing methanol crossover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.