Samsung Sdi Co., Inc.

Chung-kun Cho

Sang-mock Lee

Myung-jin Lee

Doo-yeon Lee

Jong-ki Lee

Myeong-soon Kang

Jea-woan Lee

A polysulfone is provided with a nitrogen-containing functional group having an affinity to an acid, an electrolyte membrane using the polysulfone, and a fuel cell including the electrolyte membrane. In particular, the polysulfone includes a nitrogen-containing functional group that has an affinity to an acid, such as a phosphoric acid, thereby having an excellent acid retaining ability. In an electrolyte membrane including the polysulfone and an acid, the amount of the retained acid can be controlled. Therefore, the electrolyte membrane has a high ionic conductivity and a high mechanical strength. A polysulfone blend of polysulfone and a thermoplastic resin prevents the dissolution of polysulfone by phosphoric acid, so that an electrolyte membrane using the polysulfone blend has an improved durability. A cross-linked reaction product of polysulfone, a cross-linking agent and a polymerization product of polysulfone, a thermoplastic resin, and a cross-linking agent strongly resist a phosphoric acid. Thus, a fuel cell using these polymerization products has a long lifetime and can operate at a high temperature and at a high efficiency.

Polysulfone, electrolyte membrane using the same, and fuel cell using the electrolyte membrane

A polymer electrolyte membrane includes a cross-linking reaction product between a hydrophilic polymer and a cross-linking agent represented by Formula 1 below  wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C20 aryl group, or substituted or unsubstituted C2-C20 heteroaryl group; and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 5. The polymer electrolyte membrane may be prepared by preparing a composition for forming a polymer electrolyte membrane including the hydrophilic polymer, the cross-linking agent represented by Formula 1 and a solvent, applying the composition for forming a polymer electrolyte membrane to a supporting substrate; and heat treating the composition for forming the polymer electrolyte membrane to form the polymer electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell or other device includes the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane has low solubility to a strong acid and excellent ionic conductivity. Also, the polymer electrolyte membrane is suitable for high temperatures and has excellent durability obtained by reinforcing the mechanical strength of the electrolyte membrane. By employing such a polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel cell having excellent efficiency, etc. can be prepared.

Polymer electrolyte membrane, method of preparing the same and fuel cell employing the same

Provided are a separator having an inorganic protective film and a lithium battery using the separator. The separator has suppressed self discharge and reduced internal shorting.

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Yongin-si, South Korea

Chung-kun Cho