Fuel cell incorporating novel ion-conducting membrane
US5679482A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Fuel cells incorporating a novel ion-conducting membrane are disclosed. The membrane comprises a plurality of acid-stable polymer molecules each having at least one ion-conducting component covalently bonded to at least one flexible connecting component. The membrane has ion-conducting components of the polymer molecules ordered such that a plurality of continuous ion-conducting channels penetrate the membrane from a first face to a second face and such that the ion-conducting channels are situated in an elastic matrix formed by the flexible connecting components. A preferred membrane is obtained by (1) sulfonating SEBS with sulfur trioxide under conditions that result in greater than 25 mol % sulfonation and (2) heating the polymer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.