Abstract: Provided are a dendrimer solid acid and a polymer electrolyte membrane using the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a macromolecule of a dendrimer solid acid having ionically conductive terminal groups at the surface thereof and a minimum amount of ionically conductive terminal groups required for ionic conduction, thus suppressing swelling and allowing a uniform distribution of the dendrimer solid acid, thereby improving ionic conductivity. Since the number of ionically conductive terminal groups in the polymer electrolyte membrane is minimized and the polymer matrix in which swelling is suppressed is used, methanol crossover and difficulties of outflow due to a large volume may be reduced, and a macromolecule of the dendrimer solid acid having the ionically conductive terminal groups on the surface thereof is uniformly distributed. Accordingly, ionic conductivity is high and thus, the polymer electrolyte membrane shows good ionic conductivity even in non-humidified conditions.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane, a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane are provided, wherein the polymer electrolyte forms an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of a polymer by simple blending of a hydrophobic polyimide having a reactive terminal group and a hydrophilic aromatic polymer having ion conductivity. The polymer electrolyte membrane has reduced swelling properties due to highly dense crosslinking of polyimide through the reactive terminal group, shows high ion conductivity at low humidity, and has methanol crossover suppressing ability. Accordingly, a fuel cell with improved electric and mechanical properties can be provided.

Abstract: A solid acid having a core of calixarene or calix resorcinarene. The solid acid is an ion conducting compound in which at least one of the hydroxyl groups is substituted by an organic group having a cation exchange group at a terminal end, a polymer electrolyte membrane including the same, and a fuel cell using the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane can provide low methanol crossover and high ionic conductivity. Accordingly, a fuel cell having high efficiency can be obtained by using the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: Provided are a dendrimer solid acid and a polymer electrolyte membrane using the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a macromolecule of a dendrimer solid acid having ionically conductive terminal groups at the surface thereof and a minimum amount of ionically conductive terminal groups required for ionic conduction, thus suppressing swelling and allowing a uniform distribution of the dendrimer solid acid, thereby improving ionic conductivity. Since the number of ionically conductive terminal groups in the polymer electrolyte membrane is minimized and the polymer matrix in which swelling is suppressed is used, methanol crossover and difficulties of outflow due to a large volume may be reduced, and a macromolecule of the dendrimer solid acid having the ionically conductive terminal groups on the surface thereof is uniformly distributed. Accordingly, ionic conductivity is high and thus, the polymer electrolyte membrane shows good ionic conductivity even in non-humidified conditions.

Abstract: Provided are a dendrimer solid acid and a polymer electrolyte membrane using the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a macromolecule of a dendrimer solid acid having ionically conductive terminal groups at the surface thereof and a minimum amount of ionically conductive terminal groups required for ionic conduction, thus suppressing swelling and allowing a uniform distribution of the dendrimer solid acid, thereby improving ionic conductivity. Since the number of ionically conductive terminal groups in the polymer electrolyte membrane is minimized and the polymer matrix in which swelling is suppressed is used, methanol crossover and difficulties of outflow due to a large volume may be reduced, and a macromolecule of the dendrimer solid acid having the ionically conductive terminal groups on the surface thereof is uniformly distributed. Accordingly, ionic conductivity is high and thus, the polymer electrolyte membrane shows good ionic conductivity even in non-humidified conditions.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane including an ionic conducting polymer and a light-irradiated product of a photoacid generator (PAG), a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell using the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent proton conductivity and homogeneity by radiating light such as UV light onto the PAG, thereby producing an acid radical which generates an acid. The polymer electrolyte membrane also suppresses methanol crossover well. The polymer electrolyte membrane can be used as an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell.

Abstract: Provided is a silica nanocomposite including silica and a siloxane-based polymer covalently bonded to the silica.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane including a polysilsesquioxane group-containing copolymer and an ionic conductive polymer is provided. A method of preparing the polymer electrolyte membrane and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane is also provided. The polymer electrolyte membrane has improved ion conductivity and an improved ability to suppress methanol crossover, and therefore can be used as an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, including a direct methanol fuel cell.

Abstract: An ion-conducting, sulfonated and crosslinked copolymer for use in a fuel cell is disclosed. The ion-conducting, sulfonated and crosslinked copolymer is made up of four monomers. The first monomer is an aromatic diol. The second monomer includes two groups, each group capable of reacting with the hydroxy groups of the first monomer, and each group independently selected from a nitro group and a halogen group. The third monomer is one of the first monomer or the second monomer, except that one of the hydrogen atoms attached to a benzene ring is substituted with —SO3Y, where Y is selected from hydrogen (H), lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and trialkyl ammonium of the form HNR3 where R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The fourth monomer includes at least three groups, each independently selected from a hydroxy group, a nitro group, and a halogen group.

Abstract: A solid acid including a carbon nanotube (CNT), a spacer group combined with the CNT and an ionically conductive functional group connected to the spacer group. A polymer electrolyte membrane may include the same composition, and may be used in a fuel cell. The polymer electrolyte membrane using the solid acid has excellent ionic conductivity and suppresses the cross-over of methanol. The polymer electrolyte membrane is used as an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell, for example, a direct methanol fuel cell.

Abstract: A polysiloxane compound and a fuel cell including the same where the polysiloxane compound is an organic polymer siloxane compound containing sulfonic acid groups. By using the organic polymer siloxane compound containing sulfonic acid groups, a polymer electrolyte membrane having superior characteristics such as dimensional stability and ionic conductivity, without affecting the amount of methanol crossover, can be obtained by reducing swelling due to liquids.

Abstract: Example embodiments provide a composition for a polyurethane foam including a silane precursor and/or polysilsesquioxane resin, and a preparation method of the polyurethane foam. A polyurethane foam having improved mechanical properties and insulation characteristic can be obtained by including the silane precursor and/or a polysilsesquioxane in the formation of the polyurethane foam.

Abstract: Provided is a silica nanocomposite including silica and a siloxane-based polymer covalently bonded to the silica.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane including an inorganic nanoparticle bonded with a proton-conducting group, a solid acid and a proton-conducting polymer. The inorganic nanoparticle bonded with the proton-conducting group may be obtained by reacting a compound including a proton-conducting group with a metal precursor. The polymer electrolyte membrane has significantly enhanced proton conductivity and reduced methanol crossover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing nanoporous carbons with enhanced mechanical strength and the nanoporous carbons prepared by the method, and more specifically, to a method for preparing a nanoporous carbon, comprising the steps of (i) synthesizing a mesoporous silica template not being subjected to any calcination process; (ii) incorporating a mixture of a monomer for addition polymerization and initiator, or a mixture of a monomer for condensation polymerization and acid catalyst into the as-synthesized mesoporous silica template, and reacting the mixture to obtain a polymer-silica composite; and (iii) carbonizing the polymer-silica composite at a high temperature to obtain a carbon-silica composite, from which the silica template is then removed using a solvent.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane, a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane are provided, wherein the polymer electrolyte forms an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of a polymer by simple blending of a hydrophobic polyimide having a reactive terminal group and a hydrophilic aromatic polymer having ion conductivity. The polymer electrolyte membrane has reduced swelling properties due to highly dense crosslinking of polyimide through the reactive terminal group, shows high ion conductivity at low humidity, and has methanol crossover suppressing ability. Accordingly, a fuel cell with improved electric and mechanical properties can be provided.

Abstract: A polymer membrane, a method of preparing the same, and a fuel cell employing the same are provided, where the polymer membrane includes a porous polymer film having sulfonated pores. The polymer membrane can be prepared easily and economically, has excellent ionic conductivity, and effectively reduces crossover in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A polysiloxane compound and a fuel cell including the same where the polysiloxane compound is an organic polymer siloxane compound containing sulfonic acid groups. By using the organic polymer siloxane compound containing sulfonic acid groups, a polymer electrolyte membrane having superior characteristics such as dimensional stability and ionic conductivity, without affecting the amount of methanol crossover, can be obtained by reducing swelling due to liquids.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane including a polysilsesquioxane group-containing copolymer and an ionic conductive polymer is provided. A method of preparing the polymer electrolyte membrane and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane is also provided. The polymer electrolyte membrane has improved ion conductivity and an improved ability to suppress methanol crossover, and therefore can be used as an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, including a direct methanol fuel cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor electrode including a layer of metal oxide particles; a dye coating a surface of the layer of metal oxide particles; and a carbon nanotube, having at least one anchoring functional group, attached to the layer of metal oxide particles through the anchoring functional group. Also disclosed are a method for preparing the semiconductor electrode and a solar cell including the semiconductor electrode.