Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology

Duk Man Yu

Tae Ho Kim

Young Taik Hong

Seog Je Kim

Young Jun Yoon

Jang Yong Lee

Kyung Seok Yoon

The present invention relates to an ion conducting polymer including a partially branched block copolymer; a method of preparing the same; an ion conductor including the ion conducting polymer; an electrolytic membrane including the ion conducting polymer; a membrane-electrode assembly comprising the electrolytic membrane, and a battery comprising the same; and a separation membrane for a redox flow battery including the ion conducting polymer, and a redox flow battery comprising same. Specifically, the partially branched block copolymer includes: a first block including a hydrophilic first polymer; a second block derived from a hydrophobic second polymer having two or more reactive groups respectively on its both ends, in such a way as to form branching points forming side branches on a main chain; and optionally a third block including a hydrophobic third polymer. The ion conducting polymer in the form of a partially branched block copolymer can prepare a polymer membrane having improved conductivity and superior physical properties such as tensile strength elongation at break, etc., while having the same or similar ion-exchange capacity (IEC), percentage water absorption and/or degree of dimensional change compared to conventional ion conducting polymers in the form of linear block copolymers. Because of such outstanding physical properties, the polymer membrane can be used as a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, and a redox flow battery comprising the same as a separation membrane can exhibit outstanding cell performance and maintain high discharge charge capacity retention rate even when repeatedly charged and discharged several times.

Ion conducting polymer comprising partially branched block copolymer and use thereof

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, in which the glass transition temperature of an electrolyte membrane is reduced using a hydrophilic solvent, and a membrane-electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, manufactured by the method. In the method of the invention, the glass transition temperature of the electrolyte membrane to which a catalyst is transferred is reduced compared to that in a conventional method for manufacturing a membrane-electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the decal process. Thus, even to an electrolyte membrane material having a relatively high glass transition temperature, the catalyst may be transferred at a rate of 100% at a temperature of about 120&#xb0; C., at which hot pressing is carried out. Thus, the problems associated with electrolyte membrane deterioration occurring in conventional methods can be solved.

Method for manufacturing membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cell and membrane-electrode assembly manufactured thereby

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Ansan-si, South Korea

Duk Man Yu