Acid-modified polybenzimidazole fuel cell elements
AssigneeHoechst Celanese Corporation
InventorsMichael J. Sansone, Frank J. Onorato, Naoya Ogata
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Abstract
An electrolytic membrane for use in fuel cell includes a fluid-imbibed acidified polybenzimidazole resin. The resin is alkyl or aryl sulfonated or alkyl or aryl phosphonated, preferably with a degree of substitution of from 15 to about 60 per cent.
Claims17
An electrolytic membrane for use in a fuel cell comprising an acidified polybenzimidazole resin membranous structure imbibed with phosphoric acid wherein said polybenzimidazole resin is covalently functionalized at its imidazole nitrogens with an alkyl or aryl acid moiety selected from the group consisting of organo sulfonate and organo phosphorylate substitutions and mixtures thereof.
A fuel cell element comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane therebetween, said membrane comprising an acidified polybenzimidazole resin membranous structure imbibed with a fluid selected from the group consisting of water, acid media and mixtures of acids and water wherein said polybenzimidazole resin is covalently functionalized on at least a portion of its imidazole nitrogens with an alkyl or aryl acidic moiety, and wherein said acidic moiety is a phosphorylate and wherein further said membrane is operative to conduct protons between said anode and said cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.