• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2004

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is considered as a candidate technology for applications in stationary, transportation as well as electronic power generation purposes. To develop a high performance direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC), a competent electrolyte membrane is needed. The electrolyte membrane should be durable and methanol crossover must be low. One of the approaches to increase the stability of generally used polymer electrolyte membranes such as Nafion against swelling or thermal degradation is to bond it with an inorganic material physically or chemically. In Noritake Company, we have developed a novel method of reinforcing the polymer electrolyte matrix with inorganic fibers. Methanol crossover values measured were significantly lower than the original polymer electrolyte membranes. These fiber reinforced electrolyte membranes (FREM) were used for DMFC study and stable power output values as high 160 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ were measured. The details of the characteristics of the membranes as well as I-V data of fuel cell stacks are detailed in the paper.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.150-153
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• 2009

Anion exchange polymer electrolyte pore-filling membranes consisting of the whole hydrocarbon materials were prepared by photo polymerization with various quaternary ammonium cationic monomers and characterized on the properties for applying to solid alkali fuel cell (SAFC). Hydrocarbon porous substrates such as polyethylene were used for the preparation of the pore-filling membranes. The hydroxyl ion conductivity of the polymer electrolyte membranes prepared in this research was dependent on the composition ratio of an electrolyte monomer and crosslinking agents used for polymerization. Furthermore, these pore-filling membranes have commonly excellent properties such as smaller dimensional affects when swollen in solvents, higher mechanical strength, lower fuel crossover through the membranes, and easier preparation process than those of traditional cast membranes.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.129.2-129.2
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• 2010

AEM which were used for solid alkaline fuel cell(SAFC) were prepared by photo polymerization in method pore-filling with various quaternary ammonium cationic monomers and crosslinkers without an amination process. Their specific thermal and chemical properties were characterized through various analyses and the physico-chemical properties of the prepared electrolyte membranes such as swelling behavior, ion exchange capacity and ionic conductivity were also investigated in correlation with the electrolyte composition. The polymer electrolyte membranes prepared in this study have a very wide hydroxyl ion conductivity range of 0.01 - 0.45S/cm depending on the composition ratio of the electrolyte monomer and crosslinking agent used for polymerization. However, the hydroxyl ion conductivity of the membranes was relatively higher at the whole cases than those of commercial products such as A201 membrane of Tokuyama. These pore-filling membranes have also excellent properties such as smaller dimensional affects when swollen in solvents, higher mechanical strength, lowest electrolyte crossover through the membranes, and easier preparation process compared of traditional cast membranes. The prepared membranes were then applied to solid alkaline fuel cell and it was found comparable fuel cell performance to A201 membrane of Tokuyama.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Composite polymer electrolyte membranes based on porous supports have been recognized as an alternative for fuel cell applications since it can provide both mechanical as well as electrochemical stabilities. This mini-review highlights recent advances in supported composite polymer electrolyte membranes using porous matrix and nanofibrous supports. In addition, a comprehensive table listing a wide range of anion and proton exchange pore filling membranes was provided at the end of the review.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.29-32
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• 2003

Polymer electrolyte membranes are developed for the applications to facilitated transport membranes, fuel cells and solar cells. The polymer electrolyte membranes containing silver salt show the remarkably high separation performance for olefin/paraffin mixture in the solid state; the propylene permeance is 45 GPU and the ideal selectivity of propylene/propane is 15,000. For fuel cell membranes, the effects of the presence and size of the proton transport channels on the proton conductivity and methanol permeability were investigated. The cell performance for dye-sensitized solar cells employing polymer electrolytes are measured under light illumination. The overall energy conversion efficiency reaches 5.44 % at 10 ㎽/$\textrm{cm}^2$, to our knowledge the highest value ever reported in the polymer electrolytes.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2008

Organic/inorganic composite electrolyte membranes were prepared for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)s with various molecular weight (400, 600, 1,500 and 3,400) was ethoxysilated to fabricate organic/inorganic composite materials through sol-gel processes. The electrolyte membranes were produced by doping the composite materials with NaI and $I_2$, and their ionic conducting behavior was investigated. The ionic conductivity of the composite electrolyte was highly affected by the PEG molecular weight, and the highest conductivity was shown by the composite membrane prepared with PEG with the molecular weight of 1,500. The composite electrolyte membranes showed considerable improvement of ionic conductivity. Compared to PEO electrolyte membranes, the composite electrolyte membrane prepared by PEG, MW 1,500, showed much higher ionic conductivity.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.729-733
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• 2009

Solution casting films of sulfonated poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-r-butylene)-b-styrene] copolymer (sSEBS)-based composite membranes that contained different amounts of organic, nanorod-shaped polyrotaxane were annealed at various temperatures for 1 h. The films' properties were characterized with respect to their use as polymer electrolyte membranes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Different aspect ratios of polyrotaxane were prepared using the inclusion-complex reaction between $\alpha$-cyclodextrin and poly(ethylene glycol). The presence of the organic polyrotaxane inside the membrane changed the morphology during the membrane preparation and reduced the transport of methanol. The conductivity and methanol permeability of the composite membranes decreased with increasing polyrotaxane content, while the annealing temperature increased. All of the sSEBS-based, polyrotaxane composite membranes annealed at $140^{\circ}C$ showed a higher selectivity parameter, suggesting their potential usage for DMFCs.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2004

Facilitated transport membranes for the separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures have long been of interest in separation membrane science because olefins, such as propylene and ethylene, which are important chemicals in petrochemical industries, are currently separated by energy-intensive cryogenic distillation processes. Recently, solid polymer electrolyte membranes containing silver ions have demonstrated remarkable performance in the separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures in the solid state and, thus, they can be considered as alternatives to cryogenic distillation. Here, we review recent progress, and critical issues affecting in the use of facilitated olefin transport membranes; in particular, we provide a general overview with reference to carrier properties, transport mechanisms, and separation performance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

Organic/inorganic composite electrolyte membranes were prepared for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)s with various molecular weight (600, 1,500, 2,000 and 3,400) were ethoxysilated to fabricate organic/inorganic composite materials through sol-gel processes. The electrolyte membranes were produced by doping the composite materials with KI and $I_2$, and their ionic conducting behaviors were investigated. The ionic conductivity of the composite membrane was highly affected by PEG molecular weight. The highest conductivity was shown by the composite membrane prepared with PEG with the molecular weight of 2,000. The composite electrolyte membranes showed considerable improvement of ionic conductivity. Compared to PEO electrolyte membranes, the composite electrolyte membrane by PEG, MW 2,000 showed much higher ionic conductivity.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.281-283
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• 2005

Water management in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs) is one of the most challenging issues. Freeze start-up in the automotive applications is also important research topic in the PEMFC field. Transportation of proton and separation of reactant gases are main roles of polymer electrolyte membranes. It has been known that water in the membrane conducts as a vehicle for the proton transportation. At sub-zero temperature, the frozen water blocks the access of reactant gases to the active sites of electrode as well as occurs the physical destruction of fuel cell structures. In this study, property changes of electrolyte membranes in the freeze conditions $(at\;-25^{\circ}C)$ were investigated. For the various amount of water contained membranes, the property changes, especially for the proton conductivity, were observed after several times of freeze/thaw$(-25\~80^{\circ}C)$ cycle.