Abstract: A supported catalyst includes a carbonaceous catalyst support and first metal-second metal alloy catalyst particles adsorbed on the surface of the carbonaceous catalyst support, wherein the difference between a D10 value and a D90 value is in the range of 0.1 to 10 nm, wherein the D10 value is a mean diameter of a randomly selected 10 wt % of the first metal-second metal alloy catalyst particles and the D90 value is a mean diameter of a randomly selected 90 wt % of the alloy catalyst particles. The supported catalyst has excellent membrane efficiency in electrodes for fuel cells due to uniform alloy composition of a catalyst particle and supported catalysts that do not agglomerate.

Abstract: A composition containing a proton-conductive copolymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane containing the composition; a method of producing the membrane; and a fuel cell employing the membrane. The composition includes: a proton-conductive copolymer comprising a first styrene repeating unit, a second styrene repeating unit, and a dimethylsiloxane repeating unit; and a cross-linked polymer obtained from a cross-linking reaction between a siloxane oligomer having an unsaturated bond and a cross-linking agent. The cross-linked polymer has the same properties as the dimethylsiloxane repeating unit of the proton-conductive copolymer.

Abstract: A hydrogen ionic conductive inorganic material having a layered structure, wherein a moiety containing a functional group with hydrogen ionic conductivity is introduced between layers of an inorganic material having a nano-sized interlayer distance. A polymer nanocomposite membrane including a reaction product of the hydrogen ionic conductive inorganic material and a conductive polymer, and a fuel cell using the same, are also provided. In the polymer nanocomposite membrane, a conductive polymer may be intercalated to a hydrogen ionic conductive inorganic material having a layered structure or products exfoliated from an inorganic material having a layered structure are dispersed in a conductive polymer.

Abstract: A nanocomposite electrolyte membrane capable of suppressing cross-over of a polar organic fuel and a fuel cell using the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane are provided. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes a polymer having cation exchange groups and silicate nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer, the silicate nanoparticles having a layered structure, and the silicate nanoparticles being intercalated with the polymer, or layers of the silicate nanoparticles being exfoliated. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane has an improved ability to suppress permeation of polar organic fuels, such as methanol, and appropriate ionic conductivity. In addition, a fuel cell with the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane can effectively prevent cross-over of methanol used as a fuel, thereby providing improved working efficiency and extended lifespan.

Abstract: The invention provides and a highly-dispersed supported catalyst that has a reduced average particle size of catalytic metal particles and is also supported by a porous support material. A method of preparing a supported catalyst that can reduce the average particle size of catalytic metal particles supported by a support material includes first mixing a charged support material with a solution containing a polymer electrolyte having a charge opposite to that of the support material to adsorb the polymer electrolyte on the support material. Next, the support material having the polymer electrolyte adsorbed thereon is mixed with a solution containing a catalytic metal precursor ion having a charge opposite to that of the polymer electrolyte to adsorb the catalytic metal precursor ion on the support material having the polymer electrolyte adsorbed on it.

Abstract: A nanocomposite electrolyte membrane capable of suppressing cross-over of a polar organic fuel and a fuel cell using the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane are provided. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes a polymer having cation exchange groups and silicate nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer, the silicate nanoparticles having a layered structure, and the silicate nanoparticles being intercalated with the polymer, or layers of the silicate nanoparticles being exfoliated. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane has an improved ability to suppress permeation of polar organic fuels, such as methanol, and appropriate ionic conductivity. In addition, a fuel cell with the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane can effectively prevent cross-over of methanol used as a fuel, thereby providing improved working efficiency and extended lifespan.

Abstract: A trifluorostyrene and substituted vinyl compound based partially fluorinated copolymer, an ionic conductive polymer membrane including the same, and a fuel cell adopting the ionic conductive polymer membrane, wherein the partially fluorinated copolymer has formula (1): where each of R1, R2 and R3 is F, H or CH3; X is a hydroxy group or a trifluoromethyl group; m is an integer greater than zero; n is an integer greater than zero; and p, q and r are zero or integers greater than zero.

Abstract: A multiblock copolymer includes a polysulfone repeating unit of formula (1) below; a sulfonated polysulfone repeating unit of formula (2) below; and a polydialkylsiloxane repeating unit of formula (3) below, a method of preparing the multiblock copolymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane prepared from the multiblock copolymer, a method of preparing the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane: where l, m, and n are integers of 1-200; each of R1 through R8 is independently hydrogen, fluorine, or a C1-C10 alkyl group that can be substituted by at least one fluorine atom; and X represents a tetraalkylamine cation that can be substituted by hydrogen ions or other cations by ion exchange. The multiblock copolymer has a high ionic conductivity, high hydrophobicity, and good mechanical properties, can minimize crossover of methanol, and can be manufactured at a low cost.

Abstract: A multiblock copolymer includes a polysulfone repeating unit of formula (1) below; a sulfonated polysulfone repeating unit of formula (2) below; and an ethylenic unsaturated group at a terminal of the multiblock copolymer: where l and m are integers of 1-200; each of R1 through R4 is independently hydrogen, fluorine, or a C1-C10 alkyl group that is unsubstituted or substituted by at least one fluorine atom; and X represents a tetraalkylamine cation. Provided are a method of preparing the multiblock copolymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane prepared from the multiblock copolymer, a method of preparing the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane that has a high ionic conductivity and good mechanical properties and minimizes crossover of methanol can be manufactured at a low cost. In addition, the structure of the multiblock copolymer can be varied to increase selectivity to a solvent used in a polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A proton conductive copolymer includes styrene repeating units that have proton conductive functional groups and dimethylsiloxane repeating units. A polymer electrolyte membrane includes the proton conductive copolymer and a fuel cell uses the polymer electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive copolymer has excellent chemical and mechanical properties, excellent ability to form membrane with dimethylsiloxane repeating units, and superior ion conductivity with styrene repeating units that have proton conductive functional groups. Polymer electrolyte membranes that have properties appropriate for the fuel cell electrolyte membrane can be obtained using the proton conductive copolymer. Fuel cells that have improved efficiencies can be obtained using the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides and a highly-dispersed supported catalyst that has a reduced average particle size of catalytic metal particles and is also supported by a porous support material. A method of preparing a supported catalyst that can reduce the average particle size of catalytic metal particles supported by a support material includes first mixing a charged support material with a solution containing a polymer electrolyte having a charge opposite to that of the support material to adsorb the polymer electrolyte on the support material. Next, the support material having the polymer electrolyte adsorbed thereon is mixed with a solution containing a catalytic metal precursor ion having a charge opposite to that of the polymer electrolyte to adsorb the catalytic metal precursor ion on the support material having the polymer electrolyte adsorbed on it.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell, in which electrical resistance is minimized by including a current collector between a catalyst layer and a fuel diffusion layer inside electrodes to shorten the electron transfer distance, and in which corrosion of the current collector due to direct contact between the current collector and the catalyst in the catalyst layer is prevented by including an electrically conductive current collector-protecting layer between the current collector and the catalyst layer, and a fuel cell including the membrane electrode assembly which can stably exhibit constant performance for a prolonged period of time, and which has excellent efficiency due to low electrical resistance.

Abstract: A proton conducting titanate includes titanate and a sulfonic acid group-containing moiety having proton conductivity introduced into the surface of the titanate, in which the sulfonic acid group-containing moiety is directly bound to the titanate via an ether bond (—O). A polymer nano-composite membrane includes the proton conducting titanate, and a fuel cell includes the polymer nano-composite membrane. The proton conducting titanate is provided with a sulfonic acid functional group having proton conductivity, which increases the proton conductivity of the polymer nano-composite membrane. The polymer nano-composite membrane includes the proton conducting titanate, and thus can have a controllable degree of swelling in a methanol solution, and the transmittance of the polymer nano-composite membrane can be reduced. The polymer nano-composite membrane can be used as a proton conducting membrane in fuel cells to improve the thermal stability, energy density, and fuel efficiency of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell provides a current collector adjacent to an electrode catalyst layer. Since electrons passing between the current collector and the electrode catalyst layer do not pass through a diffusion layer or a supporting layer, the diffusion layer or supporting layer may be non-conductive. Thus, various materials that are hydrophilic, hydrophobic, porous, hydrous, or the like can be used for the diffusion layer and the supporting layer, thereby improving the performance of the fuel cell. In addition, manufacturing costs of the membrane electrode assembly can be decreased since the membrane electrode assembly can be manufactured quickly with low energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) of a fuel cell, the method comprising: forming a composition for forming a catalyst layer by mixing a polymer ionomer, an alcohol solvent, and a polar organic solvent having a boiling point of 30 to 200° C. with a metal catalyst; coating the composition for forming a catalyst layer on both surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane to form electrode catalyst layers; and arranging electrode supports on the electrode catalyst layers. Also, the present invention provides an MEA of a fuel cell that is produced according to the method and a fuel cell comprising MEA of a fuel cell.

Abstract: A ion-conductive composite membrane and a method of manufacturing the same, the membrane including phosphate platelets, a silicon compound, and a Keggin-type oxometalate and/or Keggin-type heteropoly acid, wherein the phosphate platelets are three-dimensionally connected to each other via the silicon compound and a method of manufacturing the same. An electrolyte membrane having an ion-conductive inorganic membrane or an ion-conductive organic/inorganic composite membrane effectively prevents crossover of liquid fuel without the reduction of ion conductivity in a liquid fuel cell, thereby allowing for the production of fuel cells having excellent performance.

Abstract: A liquid-gas separator for a direct liquid feed fuel cell includes a tube having an opening portion at a sidewall thereof; liquid extracting members that selectively transmit the liquid in the tube and located at both ends of the tube; a gas extracting membrane that selectively transmits the gas and covers the opening portion; an inlet that guides the liquid and the gas into the tube; chambers that surround an outer side of the liquid extracting member; and outlets that guide the liquid in the chambers to the outside by being connected to the chamber.

Abstract: A proton conducting inorganic material having a layered structure in which a sulfonic acid group-containing moiety having proton conductivity is introduced in between the layers of an inorganic material having a nano-sized interlayer distance such that the sulfonic acid group-containing moiety is directly bound to the inorganic material via an ether bond. A polymer nano-composite membrane including the product of a reaction between the inorganic material having the sulfonic acid-containing moiety with a proton conducting polymer, and a fuel cell adopting the same, wherein the polymer nano-composite membrane has a structure in which a proton conducting polymer is intercalated between the layers of the proton conducting inorganic material having a layered structure, or a structure in which the product of exfoliating the proton conducting inorganic material having a layered structure is dispersed in a proton conducting polymer.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a first separation layer and a buffer solution layer disposed between a liquid-phase fuel storage layer and an anode of a membrane electrode assembly. A vapor-phase fuel is transferred to the buffer solution layer through the first separation layer, condensed, and diluted to produce a liquid-phase fuel with a low concentration in the buffer solution layer, and the low concentration liquid-phase fuel is supplied to the membrane electrode assembly. A second separation layer may be interposed between the first separation layer and the fuel storage layer. Fuel is supplied by a passive supplying method so that the system can be small with a high efficiency and unnecessary power consumption can be prevented. The fuel cell system can be operated regardless of orientation.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode, and a porous layer containing a moisture retentive material. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer adjacent to the electrolyte membrane and an anode diffusion layer adjacent to the anode catalyst layer, and the porous layer is disposed between the anode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane. The performance of the fuel cell can be stably maintained even when a fuel supply is temporarily interrupted due to a malfunction of a pump or clogging of a fuel channel.