• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

Poly (VDF-co-HFP)/PEGDMA nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) have been prepared by an electrospinning process. Since electrospun NFMs have a nanoporous structure, they have a potential application for a polymer electrolyte or a separator. Poly (VDF-co-HFP) is a polymer electrolyte binder. In order to improve their mechanical properties, poly (VDF-co-HFP)/PEGDMA NFMs were crosslinked by a gamma-ray irradiation. Then the crosslinked NFMs were characterized through an electrolyte uptake, IR structural analysis, and SEM morphological investigation.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2006

Nafion/poly(ether(amino sulfone)) acid-base blend polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared and their proton conductivity and dimethyl ether permeability were investigated. Characteristics of direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDMEFC) performance using prepared blend membrane were studied. The increase of amine groups in the base polymer in composite membranes resulted in the decrease in dimethyl ether permeability. The proton conductivity of the blend membranes gradually increased as increasing temperature. The conductivity of Nafion/PEAS-0.6 (85:15) blend membranes was measured to be $1.42\times10^{-2}S/cm\;at\;120^{\circ}C$ which was higher than that of the recast Nafion. The performance of direct dimethyl ether fuel cell (DDMEFC) using the Nafion/PEAS blend membranes was higher than that using $Nafion^(R)115$ membrane. Enhanced performance of direct dimethyl ether fuel cells using Nafion/PEAS blend membrane was explained by reducing dimethyl ether (DME) crossover through the electrolyte membrane and maintenance of the proton conductivity at high temperature.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

An eco-friendly energy conversion device without the emission of pollutants has gained much attention due to the rapid use of fossil fuels inducing carbon dioxide emissions ever since the first industrial revolution in the 18th century. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that can produce water during the reaction without the emission of carbon dioxide are promising devices for automotive and residential applications. As a key component of PEMFCs, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) need to have high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. Currently, perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based PEMs (PFSA-PEMs) have been commercialized and utilized in PEMFC systems. Although the PFSA-PEMs are found to meet these criteria, there is an ongoing need to improve these further, to be useful in practical PEMFC operation. In addition, the well-known drawbacks of PFSA-PEMs including low glass transition temperature and high gas crossover need to be improved. Therefore, this review focused on recent trends in the development of high-performance PFSA-PEMs in three different ways. First, control of the side chain of PFSA copolymers can effectively improve the proton conductivity and thermal stability by increasing the ion exchange capacity and polymer crystallinity. Second, the development of composite-type PFSA-PEMs is an effective way to improve proton conductivity and physical stability by incorporating organic/inorganic additives. Finally, the incorporation of porous substrates is also a promising way to develop a thin pore-filling membrane showing low membrane resistance and outstanding durability.

• 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.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.395-408
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• 2020

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have gained much attention as eco-friendly energy conversion devices without emission of environmental pollutant. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) that can transfer proton from anode to cathode and also prevent fuel cross-over has been regarded as a key component of PEMFCs. Although perfluorinated polymer membranes such as Nafion® were already commercialized in PEMFCs, their high cost and toxic byproduct generated by degradation have still limited the wide spread of PEMFCs. To overcome these issues, development of hydrocarbon based PEMs have been studied. Incorporation of cross-linked structure into the hydrocarbon based PEM system has been reported to fabricate the PEMs showing both high proton conductivity and outstanding physicochemical stability. This study focused on the various cross-linking strategies to the preparation of cross-linked PEMs based on hydrocarbon polymers with ion conducting groups for application in PEMFCs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1763-1770
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• 2013

A series of the block copolymers were successfully synthesized from post-sulfonated hydrophilic and hydrophobic macromers via three-step copolymerization. The degrees of sulfonation (DS) of the copolymers (10%, 30%, or 50%) were controlled by changing the molar ratio of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. The resulting block copolymers were characterized by $^1H$ NMR and other technologies. The membranes were successfully cast using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution at $100^{\circ}C$. The copolymers were characterized to confirm chemical structure by $^1H$ NMR and FT-IR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that all sulfonated block copolymers exhibited good thermal stability with an initial weight loss at temperatures above $240^{\circ}C$. The membranes showed acceptable ion exchange capacity (IEC) and water uptake values in accordance with DS. The maximum proton conductivity was 184 mS $cm^{-1}$ in block copolymer-50 at $60^{\circ}C$ and 100% relative humidity, while the conductivity of Nifion-115 was 160 mS $cm^{-1}$ under the same measurement conditions. AFM images of the block copolymer membranes showed well separated the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. From the observed results it is that the prepared block membranes can be considered as suitable polymer electrolyte membranes for the application of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC).

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05b
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• pp.1-8
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• 2004

Ion-conducting polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) have recently used in developing fuel cell or solar cell for portable, mobile and residential applications [1]. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), alkaline electrolyte fuel cell (AFC) and dye-sensitized solar cell have been employing the ion-conducting PEMs to complete their electrical circuits to produce electricity.(omitted)

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.478-484
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• 2016

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composite membranes have been intensively investigated for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). Covalently linked (CL) sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) and cellulose polymer composite membranes were prepared and characterized. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and cellulose were sulfonated and then were covalently linked by 1,4-diiodobutane to produce covalently linked SPEEK and cellulose polymer composite membranes. The composite membranes showed better thermostability and electrochemical properties than SPEEK. The membranes were prepared by sol-gel casting method. CL-SPEEK/Cellulose composite membrane featured 0.2453 S/cm of proton conductivity at $80^{\circ}C$ which was better than that of Nafion.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2010

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising renewable energy source that can generate electrical energy from organic wastes using microbe. This technology has been regarded as a future green alternative energy in that MFC makes use of organic-rich wastewater and also reduces waste sludges as well as produces electricity. To be practically realized, however, achieving higher power density than now is demanded, which may be possible by eliminating various negative factors to act as resistances in MFC operations. For instance, highly activated microbes, highly conductive electrode materials, and fast electron transfer between microbes and electrodes can lead to MFC with high power density. In particular, polymer electrolyte membranes are also a key component for improved MFC performance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.333-341
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• 2020

In this study, the optimum design conditions of a polymer electrolyte membrane for application to a flexible electrochromic device (ECD) were tried to be derived. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with excellent adhesive property and transparency was selected as the base polymer for the preparation of the electrolyte membrane, and adipate-based polymer was used as the plasticizer. As a result, it was confirmed that the most influential factors on the ECD performance were the ionic conductivity and permeability of the electrolyte membrane. In addition, it was found that the factor has a close relationship with the dissociation property of the lithium salt. Overall, the optimal ECD performance was achieved when LiTFSI salt having a large anion size among various lithium salts was dissolved in a content of about 25 wt.%.