Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Paul Scherrer Institut

Günther Scherer

Hans-Peter Brack

Gerhard Maier

Lorenz Gubler

Chong-Kyu Shin

A method for preparing a membrane to be assembled in a membrane, electrode assembly includes the step of swelling an ion-conducting membrane in a liquid containing at least one solvent or to an atmosphere containing the vapor phase of at least one solvent by controlling the content of the solvent in the ion-conducting membrane. A method for manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly using an ion conducting membrane includes the steps of: providing an ion-conducting membrane in a pre-swollen state; coating the ion-conducting membrane on both sides with an electrode layer to form a sandwich; and hot-pressing the sandwich to form an ion-conducting bonding of the layers of the sandwich. Furthermore, a membrane electrode assembly is disclosed including a hot pressed sandwich having an electrode layer, a ion-conducting membrane and again an electrode layer, thereby using the ion-conducting membrane in its pre-swollen status prior to the hot-pressing.

Membrane electrode assembly (MEA), method for its manufacturing and a method for preparing a membrane to be assembled in a MEA

A block copolymer for use as a solid polymer electrolyte, said block copolymer having at least first and second segments, the first segments being hydrophilic segments provided with acidic substituents for proton transport and the second segments being hydrophobic segments having substantially no acidic substituents and serving for the mechanical integrity of the solid polymer electrolyte. Also described and claimed are an ion-conductive membrane made from block copolymers of the aforementioned kind as well as methods of preparing such block copolymers and membranes based thereon. The membranes have improved proton conductivity and improved mechanical properties in the presence of water making them particularly suitable for use in fuel cells.

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Hägglingen, Switzerland

Günther Scherer