Enhancing proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsYue Qi, Tao Xie, Timothy J. Fuller
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Abstract
The proton conducting capability of a proton exchange membrane is improved where the polymeric membrane material has a continuous non-ionic phase which provides the molecular backbone of the membrane and ionic phase clusters which provide the basis for proton exchange when the membrane is infiltrated with water or the like. In the formation of the membrane, the polymeric material is placed in a state in which the polymer chain segments are mobile and the ionic phase portions are aligned by application of an alternating electric field applied transverse or normal to the surfaces of the membrane. The aligned ionic phase increases the conductivity of the membrane in the direction through its thickness.
Claims14
A method of making a proton exchange membrane where the membrane consists essentially of a polymer of a molecular morphology having ionic phase clusters dispersed in a non-ionic continuous phase;
- the method comprising:
- placing the polymer in a state in which the ionic phase clusters can be aligned by an applied alternating electrical field;
- shaping the polymer in the desired form of a membrane having opposing major surfaces separated by a thickness;
- applying an alternating electric field to the polymer to align the ionic phase clusters in the direction of the thickness of the membrane;
- and
- maintaining the applied field while removing the polymer from the state in which the ionic phase clusters are mobile to fix the ionic phase clusters in alignment with the thickness direction of the membrane.
A method of making a proton exchange membrane where the membrane consists essentially of a polymer of a molecular morphology having ionic phase clusters dispersed in a non-ionic continuous phase;
- the method comprising;
- dissolving the polymer in a solvent;
- casting the dissolved polymer on a surface for the formation of a membrane having opposing major surfaces separated by a thickness;
- applying an alternating electric field to the dissolved polymer to align the ionic phase clusters in the direction of the thickness of the membrane;
- and
- maintaining the applied electric field while evaporating the solvent to leave the membrane in which the ionic phase clusters are fixed in alignment with the thickness direction of the membrane.
A proton exchange membrane having opposing membrane surfaces separated by a generally uniform thickness, the membrane consisting essentially of a single polymer material of a molecular morphology having ionic phase clusters dispersed in a non-ionic continuous phase, the ionic phase clusters being aligned in the direction of the thickness of the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.