Fuel cell polymer electrolyte membrane
AssigneeBose Corporation
InventorAgota F. Fehervari
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Abstract
Crosslinked sulfonated triblock copolymers exhibit lower methanol permeability and good physical strength relative to the perfluorinated proton conductive membranes typically used in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells. Examples of triblock copolymers that can be used as fuel cell membranes include SEBS, SIBS, and SEPS. The chemically cross-linked and sulfonated SIBS, SEBS, and SEPS exhibit lower swelling and tolerate higher sulfonation levels than the un-cross-linked counterparts. These copolymers are easily sulfonated using known procedures and can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost of the typical perfluorinated proton conductive membranes.
Claims27
A fuel cell comprising:
- a fuel delivery system;
- an oxidizer delivery system;
- a membrane electrode assembly having a sulfonated, chemically cross-linked proton-conductive, electrically non-conductive multi-block copolymer polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the multi-block copolymer has an elastomeric block and plastic block where the plastic block is chemically cross-linked and sulfonated;
- and
- wherein the cross-linking is preforming simultaneously with the sulfonated or the cross-linking is performed before the sulfonating.
A fuel cell comprising:
- a fuel delivery system;
- an oxidizer delivery system;
- a membrane electrode assembly having a sulfonated, chemically cross-linked proton-conductive, electrically non-conductive tri-block copolymer polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the tri-block copolymer has an elastomeric block and a plastic block, wherein the plastic block is a styrene polymer that is chemically cross-linked and sulfonated;
- wherein the cross-linkine takes place on the benzene ring of the styrene monomer units of the styrene polymer;
- and
- wherein the cross-linking is performed simultaneously with the sulfonating or the cross-linking is performed before the sulfonating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.