Polymeric Material (e.g., Proton Exchange Membrane (pem), Etc.) Patents (Class 429/492)
  • Patent number: 8871406
    Abstract: A highly proton conductive polymer electrolyte composite membrane for a fuel cell is provided. The composite membrane includes crosslinked polyvinylsulfonic acid. The composite membrane is produced by impregnating a mixed solution of vinylsulfonic acid as a monomer, a hydroxyl group-containing bisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent and a photoinitiator or thermal initiator into a microporous polymer support, polymerizing the monomer, and simultaneously thermal-crosslinking or photo-crosslinking the polymer to form a chemically crosslinked polymer electrolyte membrane which is also physically crosslinked with the porous support. Further provided is a method for producing the composite membrane in a simple manner at low cost as well as a fuel cell using the composite membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Young Woo Choi, Chang Soo Kim, Gu Gon Park, Seok Hee Park, Sung Dae Lim, Tae Hyun Yang, Young Gi Yoon, Min Jin Kim, Kyoung Youn Kim, Young Jun Sohn, Won Yong Lee, Mi-Soon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140315119
    Abstract: Disclosed are a new method for preparing a highly conductive anion-exchange composite membrane with a crosslinked polymer electrolyte for an alkaline fuel cell and a composite membrane prepared by the same. The method includes (A) mixing (vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride, 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, and a mixed solution of deionized water and dimethyl formamide at a weight ratio of 1:1 together by stirring at a weight ratio of 60˜75:5˜16:20˜25; (B) mixing 100 parts by weight of the mixed solution with 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Young Woo Choi, Hyun Gu Kang, Mi Soon Lee, Tae Hyun Yang, Chang Soo Kim, Young Gi Yoon, Seok Hee Park, Sung Dae Yim, Gu Gon Park, Young Jun Sohn, Minjin Kim, Byungchan Bae
  • Patent number: 8865362
    Abstract: A bipolar plate (1) in combination with a sealant (50, 70) for a PEM fuel cell, wherein the bipolar plate (1) has an anode side with first flow channels (20) for transport of a proton-donating fuel or a cathode side with second flow channels (12) for transport of proton-accepting fluid, or both, wherein a sealant (50, 70) is provided parallel with the bipolar plate (1) for sealing the bipolar plate against an adjacent electrolytic membrane (40). The sealant (50, 70) has fluid channels (54a, 54b, 74a, 74b) across the sealant (50, 70) for transport of proton-donating fuel or proton-accepting fluid, respectively, across the sealant and along the bipolar plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Serenergy A/S
    Inventors: Mads Bang, Anders Risum Korsgaard
  • Publication number: 20140305863
    Abstract: A process for making a composite membrane comprising the steps: (i) providing a moving poriferous support (1) impregnated with a curable composition, wherein the composition is present in the pores of the support and on a surface of the support; (ii) scraping or squeezing the poriferous support and thereby removing at least some of the curable composition (2) from the surface of the support; and (iii) after performing step (ii), irradiating the support, thereby curing the composition present therein. Composite membranes are also claimed having a surface layer thickness of below 0.5 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM MANUFACTURING EUROPE BV
    Inventor: Johannes Adrianus Wilhelmus Van Engelen
  • Patent number: 8859160
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monomer (6, 14) carrying an imidazole-type heterocycle (3). According to the invention, the chemical structure of said monomer (6, 14) comprises at least one unit of formula (I) wherein R1 comprises an alkenyl grouping and R2 comprises a grouping for protecting one of the nitrogen atoms of the heterocycle. The invention also relates to a monomer carrying a benzimidazole-type heterocycle, and to protected polymers obtained from said monomers, deprotected polymers produced by the protected polymers, a proton exchange membrane based on deprotected polymers, and a fuel cell provided with said membrane. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods for producing the above-mentioned monomers and polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
    Inventors: Xavier Glipa, Bruno Ameduri, Louis Delon, Deborah Jones, Jacques Roziere, Guillaume Frutsaert
  • Patent number: 8859150
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazoles which can, owing to its excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used for a variety of purposes and is particularly suitable as a polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) for the production of membrane electrode units for so-called PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Kilian Brehl, Edmund Thiemer
  • Patent number: 8852826
    Abstract: A composite product is for an electrode of a fuel cell including a catalyst, an electrically conductive phase which supports such catalyst, a protonically conductive phase, and a porous phase. At least the contact between the catalyst and the electrically and protonically conductive phases, and preferably also the contact of the porous phase with the catalyst and with the electrically and protonically conductive phases, is improved or maximized. Each of the phases is individually continuous, and such phases are continuous with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Raffaele Vecchione, Salvatore Leonardi, Giuseppe Mensitieri, Anna Borriello
  • Publication number: 20140287344
    Abstract: To provide a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, which exhibits excellent power generation performance even in the case of reducing the used amount of a catalyst. It is an electrode catalyst layer for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst, a porous carrier for supporting the above-mentioned catalyst, and a polymer electrolyte, in which a mode diameter of the pore distribution of the above-mentioned porous carrier is 4 to 20 nm, and the above-mentioned catalyst is supported in a pore with a pore diameter of 4 to 20 nm of the above-mentioned porous carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshinori Suzue, Yoshitaka Ono, Hiroshi Iden, Atsushi Ohma
  • Patent number: 8835078
    Abstract: A proton selective membrane for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells that is produced by providing one or more template molecules, providing one or more functional monomers to interact with the template molecules, providing a cross-linking agent(s) to covalently bond polymer chains created with the template molecules and functional monomers by polymerization, providing an initiating agent to start a chemical reaction which results in an imprinted polymer, and removing the template molecules from the imprinted polymer to create a proton selective membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Yanxiu Zhou
  • Patent number: 8835073
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer membrane for a battery including a porous support including a fiber including a core including a high melting-point polymer; and a sheath including a low melting-point polymer surrounding the core, and a method of preparing the same. The polymer membrane for a battery may further include a proton conductive polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Sang-Il Han, Hee-Tak Kim, Dae-Young Lim, Jung-Nam Im, Guk-Hwan An, Ki-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8835076
    Abstract: In a fuel cell 1 including a membrane electrode assembly 2 which includes a reinforcing-membrane-type electrolyte membrane 10A, a dry-up on the anode side is suppressed by actively forming a water content gradient in the electrolyte membrane to enhance water back-diffusion effect from the cathode side to the anode side. For that purpose, two sheets of expanded porous membranes 12a and 12b having different porosities are buried, as reinforcing membranes, in electrolyte resin 11 to obtain the reinforcing-membrane-type electrolyte membrane 10A. The reinforcing-membrane-type electrolyte membrane 10A is used to form the membrane electrode assembly 2, which is sandwiched by separators 20 and 30 such that the side of a reinforcing membrane 12b with a larger porosity becomes the cathode side, thus obtaining the fuel cell 1. When one sheet of the reinforcing membrane is buried, the reinforcing membrane is offset to the anode side to be buried in the electrolyte resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyojiro Inoue, Shinya Takeshita
  • Publication number: 20140255820
    Abstract: A membrane stack that includes a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer, and a nanostructured carbon material layer between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer. The nanostructured carbon material layer includes a plurality of nanostructured carbon material intercalated with one or more proton conducting material or coated with one or more solid superacid particles. The first polymer layer and the second polymer layer are capable of transporting protons. The membranes described herein can be used as polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cells and electrolyzers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: NANO-C, INC.
    Inventor: Ramesh Sivarajan
  • Publication number: 20140255821
    Abstract: A redox flow cell membrane includes a porous membrane that has a mean flow pore size of not more than 100 nm, that has a thickness of not more than 500 ?m, and that has an air flow rate of not less than 0.1 ml/s·cm2. When the redox flow cell membrane is used for a V—V-based redox flow cell, the porous membrane preferably has a mean flow pore size of not more than 30 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Hirokazu Katayama, Yasuhiro Okuda, Naoki Shimbara, Toshio Shigematsu, Yongrong Dong, Kei Hanafusa, Fumihiro Hayashi, Aya Ooya
  • Patent number: 8828619
    Abstract: A proton exchange polymer membrane whose surface is treated by direct fluorination using a fluorine gas, a membrane-electrode assembly, and a fuel cell comprising the same are provided. The proton exchange polymer membrane of the present invention exhibits improved proton conductivity, high dimensional stability, and decreased methanol permeability through introducing hydrophobic fluorine having high electronegativity to the surface of the polymer membrane. Therefore, the proton exchange polymer membrane with excellent electrochemical properties of the present invention can be preferably utilized as polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell, generating electric energy from chemical energy of fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, Hanyang University
    Inventors: Young-Moo Lee, Chang-Hyun Lee, Sang-Yun Lee
  • Patent number: 8815467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes separated by at least one polymer electrolyte membrane, the aforementioned polymer electrolyte membrane having fibrous reinforcing elements which at least partly penetrate the polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein at least some of the fibrous reinforcing elements have functional groups which have a covalent chemical bond between the fibers and the polymer of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The membrane electrode assembly is suitable for applications in fuel cells, especially in high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Thomas Justus Schmidt, Oliver Gronwald, Detlef Ott, Christoph Hartnig
  • Patent number: 8808941
    Abstract: A naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer is represented by Formula 1 below: In Formula 1, R2 and R3 or R3 and R4 are linked to each other to form a group represented by Formula 2 below, and R5 and R6 or R6 and R7 are linked to each other to form a group represented by Formula 2 below, In Formula 2, * represents the bonding position of R2 and R3, R3 and R4, R5 and R6, or R6 and R7 of Formula 1. A polymer is formed by polymerizing the naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer, an electrode for a fuel cell includes the polymer, an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes the polymer, and a fuel cell uses the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seongwoo Choi, Jungock Park
  • Publication number: 20140227627
    Abstract: An anion transport membrane is provided enabling efficient anion exchange across the membrane, which could be used in applications like fuel cells, water electrolyzers, or water filtration systems. The structural membrane morphology is based on a hydrophobic polysulfone membrane backbone and co-grafted thereon hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) grafts and anion conducting quaternary ammonium species. This structure defines a bi-continuous morphology with locally phase-separated hydrophobic-hydrophilic domains, and a co-localization of the anion conducting quaternary ammonium species with respect to the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) grafts enabling efficient and continuous ion transport channels for facilitating anion transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Steve S. He, Curtis W. Frank
  • Patent number: 8802317
    Abstract: Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) made from perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, displaying proton conductivity at least in the presence of water, adequate for operation in a fuel cell, comprising at least one oxidation protection agent and additives. The PEM is an acid/base polymer blend which forms acidic and basic domains, the basic polymer being formed by polybenzimidazole (PBI) and the at least one oxidation protection agent being formed by manganese oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Florian Finsterwalder, Thomas Soczka-Guth, Manuel Christian Schaloske
  • Patent number: 8802319
    Abstract: The present invention relates to block copolymer electrolyte composite membranes with improved ionic conductivity. The block copolymer electrolyte composite membrane in accordance with an aspect of the present invention can comprise a plate-like inorganic filler as surface-modified with a sulfonic group; and a block copolymer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a sulfonic group, a carbonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chong-Min Koo, Soon-Man Hong, Seung-Sang Hwang, Kyung-Youl Baek, Jang-Woo Lee, Jin-Hong Lee, Youn-Duk Park, Kyung-ho Min, Ji-Young Jung
  • Patent number: 8802318
    Abstract: A compound that is a polymerization product of a compound composition that contains a diisocyanate-based compound and an aromatic polyol, a composition that contains the compound and an interpenetration polymer, a fuel cell electrode including either the compound or the composition, a fuel cell electrolyte membrane including either the compound or the composition, and a fuel cell including at least one selected from the group consisting of the fuel cell electrode and the fuel cell electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Seong-woo Choi, Cheol-hee Ahn, Jung-ock Park, So-young Park
  • Patent number: 8802315
    Abstract: A composition including a cross-linkable compound and at least one selected from compounds represented by Formula 1, a composite obtained from the composition, an electrode including the composition or the composite, a composite membrane including the composite, and a fuel cell including the composite membrane, wherein, in Formula 1, a and R are as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-hyun Kim, Pil-won Heo, Chan-ho Pak, Seong-woo Choi
  • Patent number: 8795925
    Abstract: The fuel composition for a fuel cell for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes a fuel, water, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and heteropoly acid. The fuel may be a hydrocarbon fuel. The hydrogen peroxide may be present in an amount of 10 wt % to 60 wt % based on the weight of the mixture of the fuel, water, and the hydrogen peroxide. The heteropoly acid may be present in an amount of 0.0001 parts to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a mixture of the fuel, water, and hydrogen peroxide. The fuel composition may reduce a reforming reaction temperature and also hydrogen generating efficiency and resultantly provides a high power cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In-Hyuk Son
  • Patent number: 8795911
    Abstract: A fuel cell module includes a cell unit including an electrolyte membrane, a cathode disposed on one face of the electrolyte membrane, and an anode disposed on the other face of the electrolyte membrane, and a water reservoir which stores water produced at the cathode. The water reservoir includes an opening formed in a region other than the cathode of the cell unit, and a projection projecting from the opening to an anode side. The water covering a cathode surface of a fuel cell is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Taniguchi, Takahiro Isono
  • Patent number: 8790843
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and a stamped metal separator. The metal separator is positioned between the membrane electrode assemblies. The separator includes at least one channel on both surfaces of the separator formed by a stamping process. The separator comprises a plurality of holes, each of which form a manifold communicating with each the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Young-Seung Na, Jun-Won Suh, In-Seob Song, Keun-Yong Lee, Sung-Won Jeong, Chan-Gyun Shin
  • Patent number: 8785013
    Abstract: Compositions containing modified fullerenes and their use, for example, as films for membranes in electrode assemblies for electrochemical cells and fuel cells such as fuel cells are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Paul J. Krusic, Helen S. M. Lu, Zhen-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 8784562
    Abstract: A substrate 10 that selectively allows hydrogen to permeate therethrough is formed with a catalyst thin layer 20 on a first side 11 thereof and is heated in a furnace tube 110, which functions as a reactor, of a heating furnace 100 while a raw material gas to the catalyst thin layer 20 is fed. Hydrogen produced on the first side 11 of the substrate 10 as a result of the formation of carbon nanotubes 5 is separated from the raw material gas and is allowed to permeate to a second side 12 thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imanishi, Naoki Ito, Shigeaki Murata, Keisuke Nagasaka, Hiroyuki Kawai, Satoshi Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20140199611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazole polymers which, owing to their outstanding chemical and thermal properties, can be used widely and are suitable in particular as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for producing membrane electrode assemblies or so-called PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Brian Benicewicz, Guoqing Qian, Max Molleo, Harry Joseph Pleohn, Xiaoming Chen, Jörg Belack, Gordon Calundann
  • Publication number: 20140199610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazole polymers which, owing to their outstanding chemical and thermal properties, can be used widely and are suitable in particular as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for producing membrane electrode assemblies or so-called PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Brian Benicewicz, Guoqing Qian, Max Molleo, Jörg Belack, Gordon Calundann
  • Publication number: 20140199613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane that includes a porous polymer material made of a polyimide with interconnected macropores and impregnated with protic ionic liquid conductors (CLIP), as well as to the method for manufacturing same and to the uses thereof. The membranes of the invention fulfil the need for membranes including CLIPs, which have good proton-conducting properties as well as good physical properties, in particular high thermal and mechanical stability, in addition to a wide range of electrochemical stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicants: UNIVERSITE DE ROUEN, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE-CNRS, INSTITUT POLYTECHNIQUE DE GRENOBLE
    Inventors: Corinne Chappey, Sema Karademir, Quang Trong Nguyen, Dominique Langevin, Stephane Marais, Regis Mercier, Mathieu Martinez, Cristina Iojoiu, Jean-Ives Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20140193741
    Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells and a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell including the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a fluorine-based cation exchange resin having proton conductivity and fibrous nanoparticles having a hydrophilic group. By using the fluorine-based cation exchange resin having proton conductivity and the fibrous nanoparticles having a hydrophilic group in combination, performance of a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane is not deteriorated and the polymer electrolyte membrane prevents gases from permeating thereinto and has enhanced durability for extended use. A fuel cell including the above-described polymer electrolyte membrane is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung A. Sung, Hyuk Kim, Seong Ho Choi, Sang Woo Lee, Tae Geun Noh, Do Young Kim, Min Kyu Min
  • Publication number: 20140193742
    Abstract: To provide: a block copolymer that exhibits excellent proton conductivity even under low-humidification conditions, exhibits excellent mechanical strength and chemical stability, and when used in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, allows high output and excellent physical durability; a polymer electrolyte material; and a polymer electrolyte form article and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, using the same. The block copolymer of the present invention includes each one or more of: a segment (A1) containing an ionic group; a segment (A2) not containing an ionic group; and a linker moiety connecting the segments. The segment (A1) containing an ionic group comprises a constituent unit represented by a specific structure. The polymer electrolyte material, the polymer electrolyte form article, and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention are manufactured by using the above block copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Daisuke Izuhara, Hiroaki Umeda, Emi Amano, Tomoyuki Kunita
  • Patent number: 8771899
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes a structure having an ionically-conductive, electrically-resistive electrolyte/separator layer covering an inner or outer surface of a carbon-containing electrically-conductive hollow fiber and a catalyst coupled to the hollow fiber, an anode extending along at least part of a length of the structure, and a cathode extending along at least part of the length of the structure, the cathode being on an opposite side of the hollow fiber as the anode. In another embodiment, a method includes acquiring a structure having an ionically-conductive, electrically-resistive electrolyte/separator layer covering an inner or outer surface of a carbon-containing electrically-conductive hollow fiber and a catalyst along one side thereof, adding an anode that extends along at least part of a length of the structure, and adding a cathode that extends along at least part of the length of the structure on an opposite side as the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Langry, Joseph C. Farmer
  • Patent number: 8771896
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprises at least two current collectors, an electrically insulating separator element and solid electrolyte. Each current collector comprises at least one transverse passage passing through it from a first surface to a second surface and the separator element comprising opposite first and second faces is arranged between the current collectors. A plurality of transverse channels pass through the separator element from the first face to the second face and the ionically conducting solid electrolyte occupies the volume bounded by the channels of the separator element and by the passages of the current collectors. The separator element is formed by a thermoplastic polymer material and hard particles are arranged in the transverse channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Laurent, Philippe Capron, Audrey Martinent, Denis Locatelli
  • Patent number: 8765893
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure encompass vinyl addition and ROMP polymers having at least one type of repeating unit that encompasses a comprise N+(CH3)3OH? moiety. Other embodiments in accordance with the disclosure include alkali anion-exchange membranes (AAEMs) made from one of such polymers, anion fuel cells (AFCs) that encompass such AAEMs and components of such AFCs, other than the AAEM, that encompass one of such polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Promerus, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bell, Edmund Elce, Keitaro Seto
  • Patent number: 8765894
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure encompass vinyl addition and ROMP polymers having at least one type of repeating unit that encompasses a comprise N+(CH3)3OH? moiety. Other embodiments in accordance with the disclosure include alkali anion-exchange membranes (AAEMs) made from one of such polymers, anion fuel cells (AFCs) that encompass such AAEMs and components of such AFCs, other than the AAEM, that encompass one of such polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Promerus, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bell, Edmund Elce, Keitaro Seto
  • Patent number: 8758954
    Abstract: Membranes and processes for preparing membranes having weakly acidic or weakly basic groups comprising the steps of: (i) applying a curable composition to a support; (ii) curing the composition for less than 30 seconds to form a membrane; and (iii) optionally removing the membrane from the support; wherein the curable composition comprises a crosslinking agent having at least two acrylic groups. The membranes are particularly useful for producing electricity by reverse electrodialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe B.V.
    Inventors: Willem Johannes Van Baak, Johannes Adrianus Wilhelmus Van Engelen, Dana Manuela Sterescu
  • Patent number: 8758953
    Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with enhanced current density or power density is fabricated using high temperature (HT) proton exchange membrane (PEM). The MEA can be utilized in high temperature PEM fuel cell applications. More specifically, the MEA is modified with the addition of one or more of selected materials to its catalyst layer to enhance the rates of the fuel cell reactions and thus attain dramatic increases of the power output of the MEA in the fuel cell. The MEA has application to other electro-chemical devices, including an electrolyzer, a compressor, or a generator, purifier, and concentrator of hydrogen and oxygen using HT PEM MEAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Trenergi Corp.
    Inventor: Mohammad Allama Enayetullah
  • Patent number: 8758955
    Abstract: Ligand additives having two or more coordination sites in close proximity can be used in the polymer electrolyte of membrane electrode assemblies in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells in order to reduce the dissolution of catalyst, particularly from the cathode, and hence reduce fuel cell degradation over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Jing Li, Keping Wang, Yunsong Yang, Scott McDermid, Sumit Kundu
  • Publication number: 20140162172
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane including: a host polymer having a fluoropolymer molecular chain having a segment of the formula —CF2—CF(M)CH2—CF2—, wherein M is at least one selected from —CF3—, —CF2H—, —CFH2— and a combination thereof, the segment being defluorinated or dehydrofluorinated and chemically crosslinked by a low molecular weight basic compound having at least two amino groups; and a proton conductive polymer having a polymer chain being a co-polymerization product of a low molecular weight polymerizable proton conductor monomer including an acidic group having a dissociable proton and at least one polymerizable functional group, with a crosslinking agent; wherein the molecular chains of the host polymer and the proton conductive polymer form an interpenetrating polymer network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Manabu TAKEZAWA
  • Patent number: 8748556
    Abstract: A method of preparation for Self-supporting dynamic polymer membranes (called “dynamer” membranes) of the polyimine type is provided along with their use in separation processes, especially for separating gaseous species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Gihane Nasr, Mihail-Dumitru Barboiu, Christophe Charmette, José Gregorio Sanchez Marcano
  • Publication number: 20140154611
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a fluorinated copolymer, comprising a step of copolymerization of a fluorinated monomer (of the vinylidene fluoride type) with an ?-trifluoromethacrylic acid monomer or derivative of ?-trifluoromethacrylic acid, in the presence of a xanthate or trithiocarbonate compound. The invention also relates to copolymers obtained by this method as well as block copolymers comprising a copolymer block prepared according to this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Montpellier, Arkema France
    Inventors: Bruno Ameduri, Yogesh Patil
  • Publication number: 20140154594
    Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane showing high ion conductivity even under the condition of low humidity and high temperature and a method for manufacturing the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention comprises a porous substrate, a self proton conducting material dispersed in the porous substrate, and an ion conductor impregnated in the porous substrate. The self proton conducting material comprises an inorganic particle functionalized with an azole ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Lee, Moo-Seok Lee, Na Young Kim, Yong-Cheol Shin
  • Publication number: 20140154612
    Abstract: A polymer-electrolyte membrane is presented. The polymer-electrolyte membrane comprises an acid-functional polymer, and an additive incorporated in at least a portion of the membrane. The additive comprises a fluorinated cycloaliphatic additive, a hydrophobic cycloaliphatic additive, or combinations thereof, wherein the additive has a boiling point greater than about 120° C. An electrochemical fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane, and a related method, are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lakshmi Krishnan, Gary William Yeager, Grigorii Lev Soloveichik
  • Patent number: 8741503
    Abstract: A protective layer (20) is formed in a picture frame shape and a thin film shape between an electrolyte membrane (1) and a peripheral edge portion of a catalyst layer (30) by applying ink by an ink jet method. The protective layer (20) is formed directly on the electrolyte membrane (1) to a thickness in the range of about 0.1 ?m to 5.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Akita
  • Publication number: 20140147772
    Abstract: A polarizable ion-conducting material. The material contains mobile ions and a matrix formed of a polymer having ionic groups of a charge opposite to that of the mobile ions, wherein the material has a polarization of at least 0.2 mC/g, a capacitance of at least 0.1 mF/g, and a polarization retention time of at least 5 seconds. Also disclosed is a device containing such a polarizable ion-conducting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Xian Ning Xie
  • Patent number: 8735021
    Abstract: A membrane/electrode assembly for fuel cell applications includes an ion conducting polymer and a porphyrin-containing compound at least partially dispersed within the ion conducting polymer, a first electrode and a second electrode. At least one of the first and second electrodes also includes the porphyrin-containing compound. The membrane/electrode assembly exhibits improved performance over membrane/electrode assembly not incorporating such porphyrin-containing compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Michael R. Schoeneweiss, Junliang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140141357
    Abstract: Described herein is a composition comprising: a polymer derived from (a) a fluorinated olefin monomer; (b) a highly fluorinated sulfur-containing monomer of the formula: CX1X2?CX3[(CX4X5)w—O—R1—SO2Y] where X1, X2, X3, X4, and X5 are independently selected from H, Cl, or F; w is 0 or 1; R1 is a non-fluorinated or fluorinated alkylene group; and Y is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or OM, where M is a cation; and (c) a poly-functional monomer comprising at least two functional groups, wherein the functional groups are selected from the group consisting of: (i) a fluorovinyl ether group, (ii) a fluoroallyl ether group, (iii) a fluorinated olefinic group, and (iv) combinations thereof; articles thereof; and a method of making such polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Kai H. Lochhaas, Steven J. Hamrock, Klaus Hintzer
  • Patent number: 8728680
    Abstract: A fuel cell component includes an electrode support material made with nanofiber materials of Titania and ionomer. A bipolar plate stainless steel substrate and a carbon-containing layer doped with a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, ruthenium, gold, palladium, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Youssef M. Mikhail, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • Patent number: 8728682
    Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes: four fastening bolts which extend in a stack direction of a stack structure so as to penetrate through openings of end plates and nuts which are disposed at both ends of the fastening bolts and can adjust fastening forces applied by the fastening bolts to the stack structure sandwiched between the end plates. Each fastening bolt is disposed in the vicinity of an intermediate point of each side of the end plate. In an electrode facing region of the end plate, one or more springs are disposed on a first straight line passing through two fastening bolts one or more springs are disposed on a second straight line passing through two fastening bolts one or more springs are disposed on a third straight line passing through two fastening bolts and one or more springs are disposed on a fourth straight line passing through two fastening bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Kusakabe, Toshihiro Matsumoto, Norihiko Kawabata, Yoshiki Nagao
  • Publication number: 20140134519
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes: an inorganic ionic conductor including a trivalent metal element, a pentavalent metal element, phosphorous, and oxygen; and a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: National University Corporation Nagoya University, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., National University Corporation Nagoya University