Patents by Inventor Joachim Kiefer

Joachim Kiefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7736779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane which comprises polyazole blends and is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) preparation of a mixture comprising polyphosphoric acid, at least one polyazole (polymer A) and/or one or more compounds which are suitable for forming polyazoles under the action of heat according to step B), B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 400° C., C) application of a layer using the mixture from step A) and/or B) to a support, D) treatment of the membrane formed in step C) until it is self-supporting, wherein at least one further polymer (polymer B) which is not a polyazole is added to the composition obtainable according to step A) and/or step B) and the weight ratio of polyazole to polymer B is in the range from 0.1 to 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer, Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Brian Benicewicz, Eui W. Choe
  • Patent number: 7727651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polymers containing phosphonic acid groups which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) mixing of vinyl-containing phosphonic acid with one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids, esters thereof, acid halides thereof or anhydrides thereof which contain at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, and/or ?mixing of vinyl-containing phosphonic acid with one or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diamino carboxylic acids, esters thereof, acid halides thereof or anhydrides thereof, B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas at temperatures of up to 350° C. to form polyazole polymers, C) application of a layer using the mixture from step A) and/or B) to a support, D) polymerization of the vinyl-containing phosphonic acid present in the sheet-like structure obtainable according to step C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal, Gordon Calundann
  • Publication number: 20100047669
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting multilayer electrolyte membrane with a barrier layer, a process for producing it and a fuel cell containing such a membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7661542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane which comprises polyazoles and is coated with a catalyst layer and is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) preparation of a mixture comprising polyphosphoric acid, at least one polyazole (polymer A) and/or one or more compounds which are suitable for forming polyazoles under the action of heat according to step B), B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 400° C., C) application of a layer using the mixture obtained according to step A) and/or B) to a support, D) treatment of the membrane formed in step C) until it is self-supporting, E) application of at least one catalyst-containing coating to the membrane formed in step C) and/or in step D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Baurmeister, Isabel Kundler, Christoph Padberg, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer, Gordon Calundann, Brian Benicewicz, Mathias Weber
  • Patent number: 7625652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting multilayer electrolyte membrane with a barrier layer, a process for producing it and a fuel cell containing such a membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7582210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used in a variety of ways and is particularly useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to produce membrane electrode units for PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7540984
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used in a variety of ways and is particularly useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to produce membrane electrode units for PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7485227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer films and a polymer membrane having an improved mechanical property profile produced therefrom, to a process for producing them and to their use. The polymer films, polymer membranes and separation membranes of the invention are produced from selected polymer raw materials and have excellent chemical, thermal. and mechanical properties as are required for use as polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in PEM fuel cells or in apparatuses for the filtration and/or separation of gases and/or liquids or for reverse osmosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal, Jochen Baurmeister, Frauke Jordt
  • Patent number: 7462223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer blend membrane comprising a bridged polymer which is produced by a selected process. The membrane of the invention displays a significantly improved fracture toughness (elongation at break/stress) combined with virtually unchanged other properties. The membranes of the invention are suitable for producing membrane-electrode units for fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal
  • Publication number: 20080280182
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an acid-doped polymer membrane based on polyazoles. The acid-doped polymer membrane can be used in a variety of applications because of its excellent mechanical properties and is useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in PEM fuel cells. A doped polymer membrane based on polyazoles is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: A) casting a film using a solution of polymers based on polyazoles in a polar, aprotic organic solvent; B) drying the film formed in step A) until it is self-supporting; C) treating the film obtained in step B) with a treatment liquid at a temperature in the range from room temperature to the boiling point of the treatment liquid; D) drying and/or dabbing the film treated according to step C) to remove the treatment liquid from step C); and E) doping the film treated according to step D) with a doping agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer, Jochen Baurmeister, Jurgen Pawlik, Werner Kraus, Frauke Jordt
  • Patent number: 7384552
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used in a variety of ways and is particularly useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to produce membrane electrode units for PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Publication number: 20080057358
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used in a variety of ways and is particularly useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to produce membrane electrode units for PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Publication number: 20080050514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used in a variety of ways and is particularly useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to produce membrane electrode units for PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 7332530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polymers containing sulfonic acid groups, obtainable by a process comprising the steps of A) mixing vinyl-containing sulfonic acid with one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids, their esters, their acid halides or their acid anhydrides, containing at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, and/or mixing vinyl-containing sulfonic acid with one or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, their esters, their acid halides or their acid anhydrides, B) heating the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 350° C., to form polyazole polymers, C) applying a layer to a support, using the mixture according to step A) and/or B), D) polymerizing the vinyl-containing sulfonic acid present in the sheetlike structure obtainable according to step C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Celanese Ventures GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal, Gordon Calundann
  • Publication number: 20080038624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane coated with a catalyst layer, said polymer membrane comprising polymers which comprise phosphonic acid groups and are obtainable by polymerizing monomers comprising phosphonic acid groups, characterized in that the catalyst layer comprises ionomers which comprise phosphonic acid groups and are obtainable by polymerizing monomers comprising phosphonic acid groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Jorg Belack, Isabel Kundler, Thomas Schmidt, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer, Christoph Padberg, Mathias Weber
  • Publication number: 20080026277
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an asymmetric polymer film, in particular based on polazoles, a method for the production of the same and its use. The polyazole-based asymmetric polymer film according to the invention has a smooth and a rough side and enables, on account of its asymmetric structure, rapid and homogeneous doping with acids to form a proton-conducting membrane. The polyazole-based asymmetric polymer film according to the invention can be used in diverse ways on account of its excellent chemical, thermal and mechanical properties and is particularly suitable for the production of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) for so-called PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Joachim Peterson, Jochen Baurmeister, Oemer Uensal, Frauke Jordt, Joachim Kiefer
  • Publication number: 20070292734
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane based on polyvinylphosphonic acid/polyvinylsulfonic acid polymers, which owing to their excellent chemical and thermal properties, can be used for a variety of purposes and is particularly suitable as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal
  • Patent number: 7285325
    Abstract: An acid-doped, single-layer or multilayer polymer membrane comprising at least one layer A of a polymer blend with contains: a) from 0.1 to 99.9% by weight of one or more polymers comprising recurring azole units of the formula 1A and/or 1B: wherein the radicals Ar, Ar1, and Ar2 are tetravalent, divalent or trivalent aromatic or heteroaromatic groups and the radicals X are each and oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an amino group bearing a hydrogen atom, a 1-20 carbon group, in admixture with b) from 99.9 to 0.1% by weight of a polysulfone containing recurring unit having no sulfonic acid groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Soczka-Guth, Joachim Kiefer, Frauke Jordt
  • Publication number: 20070202415
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane comprising polymers comprising at least one porous carrier material and polymers comprising phosphonic acid groups, obtainable by polymerizing monomers comprising phosphonic acid groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: PEMEAS GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Kiefer, Oemer Uensal
  • Patent number: 7235320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, because of its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used in a variety of ways and is particularly useful as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) to produce membrane electrode units for PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: PEMEAS GmbH
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer