Membrane Or Process Of Preparing Patents (Class 521/27)
  • Patent number: 8124660
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane is made from a polymer electrolyte and a coordination polymer, and finds use in a fuel cell. The polymer electrolyte membrane may be made by dissolving a polymer electrolyte in a solvent to provide a first solution, adding a coordination polymer to the first solution to yield a second solution, and forming the second solution into a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Gkss-Forshungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH, Technische Universitat Dresden
    Inventors: Dominique de Figueiredo Gomes, Suzana Nunes, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Stefan Kaskel, Volker Abetz
  • Publication number: 20120041084
    Abstract: A film of a carboxylated polymer of formula (I): wherein the sum of x, y and z is an integer from 10 to 10,000 and degree of hydrolysis is 0.05 or greater provides gas separation materials in which the degree of hydrolysis may be used to tune the selectivity of the gases to an optimal required range. Such films may be prepared by casting a film of a polymer of formula (II): wherein n is an integer from 10 to 10,000, and hydrolyzing all or a portion of the —CN groups to form —COOH groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Naiying Du, Michael D. Guiver, Gilles P. Robertson, Jingshe Song
  • Patent number: 8114918
    Abstract: A method is described for producing an osmotically compacted polyelectrolyte complex having a first region and a second region, the first region having a greater modulus than the second region. The method comprises contacting an article comprising polyelectrolyte complex to a solution comprising a preferred osmolyte of concentration sufficient to compact said polyelectrolyte complex and terminating the compaction process before the entire article is osmotically compacted. A method is also described for producing a article comprising water and an intermolecular blend of at least one positively charged polyelectrolyte polymer and at least one negatively charged polymer, said article having a core region and a surface region, the surface region having at least twice the elastic modulus of the core region, the method comprising contacting a starting article comprising a blend of said polymers with a solution of osmolyte, wherein the osmolyte is excluded from said article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Schlenoff
  • Patent number: 8114552
    Abstract: There is provided an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent power generation performance and excellent durability and a method for manufacturing the same. Also provided is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the electrode structure and an electrical apparatus and a transport apparatus using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 containing carbon particles supporting catalyst particles. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is made of a sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer has an ion exchange capacity in the range of 1.7 to 2.3 meq/g, and the polymer contains a component insoluble in N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount of 70% or less relative to the total amount of the polymer, after the polymer is subjected to heat treatment for exposing it under a constant temperature atmosphere of 12° C. for 200 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Hama, Masaru Iguchi, Junichi Yano, Nagayuki Kanaoka, Naoki Mitsuta
  • Publication number: 20120035280
    Abstract: There is provided an anion exchange membrane comprising, as a main element, a block copolymer having a vinyl alcohol polymer block and a cationic-group containing polymer block as components and which is subjected to a crosslinking treatment. An anion exchange membrane is produced by heating a film obtained from a solution of the block copolymer at a temperature of 100° C. or more, crosslinking the film with a dialdehyde compound in water, an alcohol or a mixture of these under an acidic condition and then washing the film with water. Thus, there can be provided an anion exchange membrane in which organic fouling can be prevented and which exhibiting excellent basic properties such as a membrane resistance and an ionic transport number and excellent membrane strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Jikihara, Kenichi Kobayashi, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20120031842
    Abstract: A method for modifying the surface of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) composite membranes, comprising placing said composite membrane in a suitable vessel having a feed inlet opening and a permeate outlet opening, feeding an aqueous solution of one or more monomer(s) and free radical initiator into said vessel through said inlet opening, generating transmembrane pressure, thereby creating a flux across said membrane into said permeate outlet opening and causing said monomer(s) graft polymerize in the presence of said free radical initiator onto one face of said composite membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
    Inventors: Viatcheslav Freger, Sophia Belfer, Roy Berenstein
  • Patent number: 8110320
    Abstract: A method of making a durable fuel cell polymer electrolyte membrane is provided comprising the steps of: a) providing a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) providing a solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of manganese salts and cerium salts or a suspension of particles of a compound selected from the group consisting of manganese oxides and cerium oxides; and c) applying the solution or suspension to the polymer electrolyte membrane by a method selected from the group consisting of brushing, spraying and use of a slot die. Some embodiments comprise metered application of the solution to the polymer electrolyte membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Hamrock
  • Publication number: 20120029098
    Abstract: Materials are provided that may be useful as ionomers or polymer ionomers, including compounds including bis sulfonyl imide groups which may be highly fluorinated and may be polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Steven J. Hamrock, Mark S. Schaberg, Neeraj Sharma, John E. Abulu
  • Patent number: 8101315
    Abstract: The invention relates to hybrid membranes that are composed of an organic polymer and an inorganic polymer, a method for producing hybrid membranes, and the use of said hybrid membranes in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The inventive hybrid membranes comprise at least one alkaline organic polymer and at least one inorganic polymer. Said polymers are blended together at a molecular level. The inorganic polymer is formed from at least one precursor monomer when the membrane is produced. The disclosed membranes are characterized in that the same are provided with high absorptivity for doping agents, have a high degree of mechanical and thermal stability in both an undoped and doped state, and feature permanently high proton conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Elcomax Membranes GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Gronwald, Dieter Melzner, Ulrich Mahr, Annette Reiche
  • Patent number: 8101670
    Abstract: The present invention discloses polymers prepared through the Diels-Alder reaction with benzoxazine groups in their main chains. Moreover, polymers with high molecular weight could be successfully prepared via this method. Furthermore, the mentioned polymers are able to undergo crosslinking reaction by heat treatment. Heat energy causes the ring-opening reaction of benzoxazine in polymer main chains to undergo crosslinking reaction, and cross-linked polymers are thereby formed with great flexibility and high crosslinking degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Ying-Ling Liu, Ching-I Chou
  • Patent number: 8101669
    Abstract: An exchange membrane containing modified maleimide oligomers comprising sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) (S-PAEK) and modified maleimide oligomers. The exchange membrane uses the modified maleimide oligomers having a hyper-branched architecture as matrix, and introduces them into S-PAEK to constitute semi-interpenetration network (semi-IPN), so as to intensify water holding capacity, chemical resistance, the electrochemical stability and thermal resistance of the ionic/proton exchange membrane. The exchange membrane can be used to fabricate the membrane electrode assemblies, fuel cells, and be applied them to the fields of seawater desalination, heavy water and sewage treatment, and biomass-energy resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, National Central University
    Inventors: Jing-Pin Pan, Tsung-Hsiung Wang, Jung-Mu Hsu, Peter P. Chu, Chien-Shun Wu, Bo-Jun Liu
  • Patent number: 8101668
    Abstract: This invention provides a novel graft polymer that has excellent proton conductivity, is capable of regulating hydrogen permeability, methanol permeability, and the like, and can serve as a starting material for a polymer electrolyte membrane, which facilitates moisture balance control and efficient operation of a fuel cell. A polymer electrolyte membrane composed of such graft polymer is also provided. This graft polymer comprises a main chain comprising a hydroxyl group-containing polymer and a graft chain comprising a polymer containing a sulfonic acid group-containing monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaguchi University
    Inventors: Shigeharu Takagi, Mitsuru Higa
  • Publication number: 20120016044
    Abstract: Described is a process to prepare fluoropolymer organic-liquid dispersions containing a homogeneous mixture of reacted and unreacted sulfonyl halide groups. The dispersions are useful in the preparation of crosslinked membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: ROBERT D. LOUSENBERG
  • Publication number: 20120016043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a poly(arylene ether) copolymer having an ion exchange group, particularly a positive ion exchange group, a method for manufacturing the same, and use thereof. In the poly(arylene ether) copolymer having the ion exchange group according to the present invention, physical characteristics, ion exchanging ability, metal ion adsorption ability and a proccessability are excellent, and thus the copolymer can be molded in various shapes and can be extensively applied to various fields such as recovering of organic metal, air purification, catalysts, water treatment, medical fields and separating of proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Inchul Hwang, Nak Hyun Kwon, Young Taek Kim, Dong Il Kim, Ju Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20120009481
    Abstract: A room temperature crosslinkable polymer system comprising an anhydride containing polymer and an oxyalkylene amine and a polymer electrolyte derived therefrom are prepared and employed as ion conducting materials for batteries such as lithium ion battery, solar cells and electrochromic devices is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Zhiquang Song, Suruliappa G. Jeganathan, Jacqueline Lau, Rakesh Gupta
  • Patent number: 8092952
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer blend electrolyte membrane comprising an inorganic polymer having polydimethylsiloxane as a main chain, which has a pore structure at both ends formed by condensation reaction between 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and tetraethylorthosilicate, wherein phosphoric acid is chemically linked to an amino group of the pore structure; and a proton-conducting polymer having a cation exchange group at the side chain thereof, as well as a manufacturing method thereof. Generally, proton-conducting electrolyte membranes have significantly reduced ion conductivity at high temperatures. However, proton-conducting electrolyte membranes have advantages in terms of efficiency and cost, and thus it is needed to develop an electrolyte membrane, which has excellent ion conductivity even at high temperature. Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a polymer blend electrolyte membrane for use at high temperature and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Sogang University
    Inventors: In Chul Hwang, Nak Hyun Kwon, Ki Yun Cho, Young Taek Kim, Hee Woo Rhee, Li Jin Ghil
  • Patent number: 8088833
    Abstract: To provide a separating agent for IgG purification, whereby IgG can be separated and purified efficiently at a high purity, and a method for purifying an IgG using it. A separating agent for IgG purification, characterized in that a polyacrylic acid and/or a polymethacrylic acid is immobilized on a carrier, and a method for purifying an IgG monomer, characterized in that a mixture containing an IgG monomer and an impurity containing polymeric IgG is contacted to the separating agent and eluted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8088534
    Abstract: A chemical fullerene derivative is for a proton conducting membrane electrolyte, in which sulfonic acid group SO3M and/or phosphonic acid group PO(OM)2 is directly bonded, but an organic compound is substantially not bonded. A production method is for the chemical fullerene derivative, which uses dimethylacetamide plus water in the case of sulfonation reagent K2SO3 and dioxane in the case of phosphonation reagent LiPO(OEt)2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Science Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyoji Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20110318644
    Abstract: An amphoteric ion exchange membrane for use in a vanadium redox flow battery has a vanadium ion permeability of less than 10×10?9 cm2/min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Maolin ZHAI, Jingyi Qiu, Jing Peng, Ling Xu
  • Publication number: 20110318671
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: PEMEAS GmbH
    Inventors: Oemer Uensal, Ursula Leister, Melanie Schlegel
  • Patent number: 8084568
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a poly(arylene ether) copolymer having an ion exchange group, particularly a positive ion exchange group, a method for manufacturing the same, and use thereof. In the poly(arylene ether) copolymer having the ion exchange group according to the present invention, physical characteristics, ion exchanging ability, metal ion adsorption ability and a processability are excellent, and thus the copolymer can be molded in various shapes and can be extensively applied to various fields such as recovering of organic metal, air purification, catalysts, water treatment, medical fields and separating of proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Inchul Hwang, Nak Hyun Kwon, Young Taek Kim, Dong Il Kim, Ju Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20110311899
    Abstract: The polymer electrolyte membrane according to the present invention comprises a polymer electrolyte having ion-exchange groups, wherein Sp and Snp satisfy a relationship expressed by the following expression (I): Sp/Snp?0.42??(I) where Sp represents the total of peak areas obtained by measurement of a 13C-solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the polymer electrolyte membrane having been subjected to a first immersion treatment comprising immersing the polymer electrolyte membrane in 5 mmol/L iron (II) chloride tetrahydrate aqueous solution at 25° C. for 1 hour, and thereafter drying the polymer electrolyte membrane at 25° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Toru Onodera, Taisuke Nakamura, Sho Kanesaka, Arihiro Yashiro, Takashi Yamada, Masamitsu Ishitobi, Shigeru Sasaki, Isao Kaito, Akira Kaito, Yuko Kaito
  • Publication number: 20110311901
    Abstract: A process for preparing mechanically stabilized polyazoles, comprising the following steps: I) treating at least one polyazole having at least one amino group in a repeat unit with a solution comprising (i) at least one strong acid and (ii) at least one stabilizing reagent, the total content of stabilizing reagents in the solution being in the range from 0.01 to 30% by weight, II) performing the stabilization reaction directly and/or in a subsequent processing step by heating to a temperature greater than 25° C., using at least one high-functionality polyether as the stabilizing reagent. The polyazoles thus obtainable are notable especially for a high conductivity and a very good mechanical stability. They are therefore especially suitable for applications in fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Friederike Fleischhaker, Anna Cristadoro, Jörg Belack, Oliver Gronwald, Francisco Javier Lopez Villanueva, Bernd Bruchmann
  • Patent number: 8076379
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on aromatic polyazoles which contain sulfonic acid groups and in which the sulfonic acid groups are covalently bound to the aromatic ring of the polymer and which can, owing to their excellent chemical and thermal properties, be used for a variety of purposes. Such materials are particularly useful for the production of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in PEM fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 8071254
    Abstract: Crosslinkable polymers and crosslinked fluoropolymers are prepared from selected fluorinated dienes and monomers containing Br and I. Also disclosed are proton conductive membranes of these crosslinked fluoropolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Zhen-Yu Yang, Amy Qi Han, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20110288187
    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: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventors: Gordon Calundann, Michael J. Sansone, Oemer Uensal, Joachim Kiefer
  • Patent number: 8062555
    Abstract: A co-assembly method includes, in an aqueous polyelectrolyte composition comprising: (a) a first polyelectrolyte dispersed in the composition and having a net electric charge of a first polarity, (b) a second polyelectrolyte dispersed in the composition and having a net electric charge of a second polarity, wherein the second polarity is opposite the first polarity, and (c) an electrolyte dissolved in the composition in a concentration effective to prevent co-assembly of the polyelectrolytes, the step of allowing co-assembly of the polyelectrolytes by: (1) decreasing the concentration of the electrolyte, or (2) forming an interface between the aqueous polyelectrolyte composition and a surface of a solid substrate or of a second liquid phase, wherein the surface has an affinity for at least one of the polyelectrolytes, or (3) decreasing the concentration of the electrolyte and forming such an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Rhodia Operations
    Inventors: Jérôme Fresnais, Jean-Francois Berret, Ling Qi, Jean-Paul Chapel, Jean-Christophe Castaing
  • Patent number: 8063111
    Abstract: Anion-conducing polymers and membranes with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a polymer backbone with attached sulfonium, phosphazenium, phosphazene, and guanidinium residues. Compositions also with enhanced stability to aqueous alkali include a support embedded with sulfonium, phosphazenium, and guanidinium salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Pivovar, David L. Thorn
  • Publication number: 20110281197
    Abstract: Disclosed is an anion-exchange membrane which does not easily deteriorate even when used at high temperatures in a strong alkaline atmosphere. Also disclosed is a method for producing the anion-exchange membrane. The anion-exchange membrane is a microporous membrane which is composed of a water-insoluble resin and an anion-exchange resin filling the pores of the microporous membrane. The anion-exchange resin is composed of an anion-exchange resin wherein a quaternary ammonium salt group serving as an anion-exchange group is directly bonded to an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, said anion-exchange resin being obtained by polymerizing and crosslinking a monomer composition which contains a crosslinking agent and a monomer component including a diallyl ammonium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Daikoku, Takenori Isomura, Kenji Fukuta, Hiroyuki Yanagi, Masao Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110281200
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicants: SNU R&DB Foundation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-woo CHOI, Cheol-hee Ahn, Jung-ock Park, So-young Park
  • Patent number: 8058319
    Abstract: Described is a process to prepare fluoropolymer organic-liquid dispersions containing a homogeneous mixture of reacted and unreacted sulfonyl halide groups. The dispersions are useful in the preparation of crosslinked membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Lousenberg
  • Patent number: 8058383
    Abstract: The preparation of aromatic sulfonimide polymers useful as membranes in electrochemical cells is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Mark F. Teasley
  • Publication number: 20110268903
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of attaching biologically active compounds to a solid surface, comprising modifying the solid surface using triazine chloride and attaching the biologically active compound to the triazine moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Chanfeng ZHAO, Igor KOZLOV, Galina STEINBERG-TATMAN
  • Publication number: 20110268901
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for making sulfonated block copolymers and to methods for making membranes from such block copolymers. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved method for making sulfonated block copolymers having at least two polymer end blocks that are resistant to sulfonation and at least one polymer interior block that is susceptible to sulfonation where the sulfonation agent is C2 to C8 acyl sulfate. In the improved process the residual carboxylic acid formed from the C2 to C8 acyl sulfate is converted to C1 to C4 alkyl esters by contacting the residual carboxylic acid with at least a 0.9:1 molar ratio of a C1 to C4 alcohol to residual carboxylic acid, resulting in an improved sulfonated block copolymer solution. The present invention further relates to the use of such sulfonated block copolymer solutions to prepare various membranes and other articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Dale Lee Handlin, JR., Scott Russell Trenor, Gregory Paul Dado
  • Patent number: 8048963
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Fuller, Sean M MacKinnon, Michael R. Schoeneweiss
  • Publication number: 20110262838
    Abstract: Triblock copolymers useful for forming ion conductive membranes are provided. The triblock copolymers are characterized by having either a hydrophobic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic or a hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer sequence that induces a microphase separated morphology. Variations in which the hydrophilic polymer sequence component includes either acid groups or salts of acid groups are also disclosed. Methods for forming an ion conductive membrane from the triblock copolymers are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Maier, Markus Gross, Hans-Georg Herz
  • Publication number: 20110262832
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane which comprises a cation exchange membrane made of a polymer having cation exchange groups and contains cerium ions is used as an electrolyte membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. In a case where the cation exchange membrane has sulfonic acid groups, the sulfonic acid groups are ion-exchanged, for example, with cerium ions so that cerium ions are contained preferably in an amount of from 0.3 to 20% of —SO3? groups contained in the cation exchange membrane. A membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of power generation in high energy efficiency, having high power generation performance regardless of the dew point of the feed gas and capable of stable power generation over a long period of time, can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Eiji ENDOH, Shinji Terazono
  • Patent number: 8039166
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell that can maintain a stable performance for a long time, a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell employing the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes at least one kind of a basic polymer and an acidic dopant. A dimensional change in the planar direction of the electrolyte membrane between a wet state and a dry state is 5% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fusaki Fujibayashi
  • Patent number: 8039520
    Abstract: An electrolyte membrane includes a nanocomposite ion complex that is a reaction product of a nanocomposite with a basic polymer. The nanocomposite includes a polymer having a sulfonic acid group and an unmodified clay. Either the unmodified clay has a layered structure and is dispersed in the polymer having the sulfonic acid group, and the polymer is intercalated between layers of the clay or the unmodified clay has an exfoliated structure and the exfoliated layers of the unmodified clay are dispersed in the polymer. The electrolyte membrane shows high mechanical strength, high ionic conductivity, and excellent methanol crossover impeding properties even when the degree of sulfonation of the polymer having the sulfonic acid group is high. When a methanol aqueous solution is used as a fuel, the fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane has a low methanol crossover, and thus, has a high operational efficiency and a long lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong Suk Choi, Ji Rae Kim, Tae Kyoung Kim, Yoon Hoi Lee, Eun-ah Kim
  • Patent number: 8034509
    Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly 1 has an anode 10, a cathode 20, and an electrolyte membrane 30 disposed between the anode and cathode; the anode and cathode are gas diffusion electrodes; the electrolyte membrane contains a solid electrolyte in which a plurality of pores with mean pore diameters of 1 to 30 nm are formed; and the solid electrolyte has a backbone comprising organic groups having one or more metal atoms, oxygen atoms bonded to the metal atoms, and carbon atoms bonded to the metal atoms or oxygen atoms, and also has functional groups with ion-exchange capabilities that are bonded to the organic groups in the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Shinji Inagaki, Yoshiaki Fukushima, Masaya Kawasumi, Naoki Hasegawa, Yu Morimoto, Kyoko Tsusaka
  • Publication number: 20110244368
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Promerus LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bell, Edmund Elce, Keitaro Seto
  • Publication number: 20110240463
    Abstract: To provide a bipolar membrane featuring improved adhesion between an anion-exchange membrane and a cation-exchange membrane without accompanied by an increase in the membrane voltage. [Means for Solution] A bipolar membrane comprising a cation-exchange membrane and an anion-exchange membrane joined together facing each other, wherein at least one of the ion exchange membranes contains a chlorinated polyolefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Kazunori Nishio, Kazuo Mizuguchi, Minoru Kawashima, Toshio Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20110230575
    Abstract: Described herein is a crosslinkable polymer based on trifluorostyrene, and its use in polymer electrolyte membranes thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Gerrit Roelofs, Mark F. Teasley
  • Publication number: 20110224314
    Abstract: A novel anion exchange polymer is provided. A method of making the anion exchange polymer includes reacting a tertiary amine, an acid inhibitor and a polyepoxide to form a quaternary ammonium monomer and polymerizing the quaternary ammonium monomer in the presence of a catalyst. The exchange polymer is prepared without using alkyl halides and can be used to make improved ion exchange materials that are chemically resistant and non-fouling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Russell James MacDonald, Jack Peters
  • Publication number: 20110223521
    Abstract: Sulfonated polymers are made by the direct polymerization of a sulfonated monomer to form the sulfonated polymers. The types of sulfonated polymers may include polysulfones or polyimides. The sulfonated polymers can be formed into membranes that may be used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells or as ion exchange membranes. The membranes formed from the sulfonated polymers exhibit improved properties over that of Nafion®. A heteropoly acid may be added to the sulfonated polymer to form a nanocomposite membrane in which the heteropoly acid is highly dispersed. The addition of a heteropoly acid to the sulfonated polymer increases the thermal stability of the membrane, enhances the conductivity above 100° C., and reduces the water uptake of the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: James E. McGrath, Michael Hickner, Feng Wang, Yu-Seung Kim
  • Patent number: 8017660
    Abstract: Highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymers achieve dissolution in aqueous tetrahydrofuran at lower pressures and temperatures than in other solvents, with few or no side products being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Qun Sun
  • Patent number: 8017659
    Abstract: A proton conductive polymer electrolyte includes an acidic functional group-containing aromatic hydrocarbon polymer and an electron donor functional group-containing compound. When used in a fuel cell, the proton conductive polymer electrolyte provides a long-term stable power generating performance at an operating temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. in non-humidified conditions or a relative humidity of 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Endo, Hiroyuki Nishide, Atsuo Sonai, Takahiro Tago, Teruyuki Okayasu
  • Publication number: 20110217595
    Abstract: Electronic short-circuiting between the anode and cathode in Li ion accumulators or batteries, an electronic separate of anode must be present with minimum electronic conductivity. To this end, in general a separating layer in the form of porous films, non-woven fabrics or nets made of polypropylene or similar polymers and containing Li ion-conducting salts and ceramic particles is used. Disadvantages of the known separating layers are the low thermal resistance and thereby embodiments with a high energy content, expensive manufacturing processes and complex interaction of the chemical substances used in the separating layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CERAMTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Alfons Kelnberger, Hans-Jürgen Schreiner
  • Publication number: 20110217623
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an inorganic proton conducting electrolyte consisting of a mesoporous crystalline metal oxide matrix and a heteropolyacid bound within the mesoporous matrix. The present invention also refers to a fuel cell including such an electrolyte and methods for manufacturing such inorganic electrolytes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: San Ping Jiang, Haolin Tang, Ee Ho Tang, Shanfu Lu
  • Publication number: 20110218256
    Abstract: Ionic polymers are made from selected partially fluorinated dienes, in which the repeat units are cycloaliphatic. The polymers are formed into membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: ZHEN-YU YANG, Amy Qi Han