Abstract: A polymer blend useful as an ion conductor in fuel cells includes a first polymer that includes a non-ionic segment and a second polymer that includes a sulfonic acid group.

Abstract: A water insoluble additive for improving the performance of an ion-exchange membrane, such as in the context of the high temperature operation of electrochemical fuel cells. The insoluble additive comprises a metal oxide cross-linked matrix having proton conducting groups covalently attached to the matrix through linkers. In one embodiment, the metal is silicon and the cross-linked matrix is a siloxane cross-linked matrix containing silicon atoms cross-linked by multiple disiloxy bonds and having proton conducting groups covalently attached to the silicon atoms through alkanediyl linkers.

Abstract: A composite membrane for fuel cell applications includes a support substrate with a predefined void volume. The void volume is at least partially filled with an ion conducting polymer composition that includes an additive that inhibits polymer degradation. Characteristically, the ion conducting polymer composition includes a first polymer with a cyclobutyl moiety and a second polymer that is different than the first polymer.

Abstract: A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields and adapted to permit transfer of water from the first flow field plate to the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl groups and a pendant side chain having a protogenic group.

Abstract: An ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications includes a combination of a polyvinyl polymer and an ion conducting polymer that is different than the polyvinyl polymer. The ion conducting membrane of this embodiment is able to operate in fuel cells at elevated temperatures with minimal external humidification. A fuel cell incorporating the ion conducting membrane between a first and second catalyst layer is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a first catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer. An ion conducting membrane is interposed between the first and second catalyst layers. The ion conducting layer includes a polyolefin support structure and an ion conducting polymer at least partially penetrating the polyolefin support structure. A set of electrically conducting flow field plates are in communication with the first and second catalyst layers.

Abstract: An ink composition for forming a fuel cell electrode includes a catalyst composition, a polymeric binder, a polymeric dispersant, and a solvent. The polymeric dispersant includes a perfluorocyclobutyl-containing polymer.

Abstract: A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields. The polymeric membrane is adapted to permit transfer of water between the first flow field plate and the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymeric substrate and a polymer layer disposed on the polymeric substrate. The polymer layer characteristically includes a first polymer having fluorinated cyclobutyl groups disposed on the polymeric substrate.

Abstract: An ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications includes an ion conducting polymer and a tin-containing compound at least partially dispersed within the ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting membranes exhibit improved performance over membranes not incorporating such tin-containing compounds.

Abstract: An ion exchange membrane is prepared from a block copolymer comprising a hydrophobic polymer segment and a polar polymer segment. The ion exchange membrane is formed by placing a film layer in steam, water or an electric field at a temperature greater than about 40° C. for sufficient amount of time to develop a bicontinuous morphology. The ion exchange membrane is also formed from a film layer comprising a block copolymer and a solvent. The film layer is placed in an electric field at an elevated temperature and dried therein. The film layer is thereby converted into an ion exchange membrane with bicontinuous morphology. The ion exchange membrane prepared according to these processes exhibits improved mechanical and electrochemical properties.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a first flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel. A cathode catalyst layer is disposed over at least a portion of the first flow field plate. A polymeric ion conducting membrane is disposed over cathode catalyst layer. An anode catalyst layer is disposed over the polymeric ion conducting membrane. Finally, a second flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel is disposed over the anode catalyst layer. The polymeric ion conducting membrane extends beyond the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer such that the fuel cell has at least one peripheral region with the polymeric catalyst layer interposed between first flow field plate and the second flow field plate without the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer.

Abstract: A polymer useful as an ion conductor in fuel cells includes a perfluorocyclobutyl moiety and pendant PFSA side groups. The polymer is made by a variation of the Ullmann reaction. Ion conducting membranes incorporating the polymer are provided.

Abstract: A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields and adapted to permit transfer of water from the first flow field plate to the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl groups and a pendant side chain having a protogenic group.

Abstract: A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields and adapted to permit transfer of water from the first flow field plate to the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl groups.

Abstract: An ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications includes an ion conducting polymer and a porphyrin-containing compound at least partially dispersed within the ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting membranes exhibit improved performance over membranes not incorporating such porphyrin-containing compounds.

Abstract: A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields. The polymeric membrane is adapted to permit transfer of water between the first flow field plate and the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymeric substrate and a polymer layer disposed on the polymeric substrate. The polymer layer characteristically includes a first polymer having fluorinated cyclobutyl groups disposed on the polymeric substrate.

Abstract: A proton conductive graft polymer comprises at least a structure unit of a sulfonated polymer side chain covalently attached to a hydrophobic perfluorocyclobutane polymer main chain. The sulfonated condensation polymer side chain has a high local ion exchange capacity while the main polymer chain is substantially free of sulfonic acid group. A membrane made from the graft polymer can provide good mechanical properties and high proton conductivity at wide range of humidity and temperatures.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a copolymer comprises a sulfonatable segment covalently linked to an un-sulfonatable segment through an organic linking group. The sulfonatable group segment may be sulfonated through direction sulfonation or sulfonation through a spacer molecule. In another embodiment, a copolymer comprises a sulfonated segment and an unsulfonated segment. A membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell may be produced using the copolymer.

Abstract: A sulfonated aromatic perfluorocyclobutane block copolymer comprises a hydrophobic perfluorocyclobutane ether chain segment and a hydrophilic sulfonated perfluorocyclobutane ether chain segment. The sulfonated perfluorocyclobutane copolymer may be used to make proton conductive membranes and membrane electrode assemblies in fuel cells. Processes of making the block copolymer through thermal coupling reactions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid electrochemical cell membrane composition comprises a hydrocarbon polymeric main chain and a perfluorinated superacid side group. A method of producing the membrane composition is also disclosed.