Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Daimler Ag

Sean M MacKinnon

Timothy J Fuller

Michael R Schoeneweiss

Frank D Coms

Craig S Gittleman

Annette Brenner

Gerald W Fly

Tao Xie

Lijun Zou

Keping Wang

Jing Li

Ruichun Jiang

Scott McDermid

Timothy James Peckham

Lukas M Bonorand

An ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications includes an ion conducting polymer and a porphyrin-containing compound at least partially dispersed within the ion conducting polymer. The ion conducting membranes exhibit improved performance over membranes not incorporating such porphyrin-containing compounds.

Co(II)tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin additive to PFSA PEMs for improved fuel cell durability

A fuel cell comprising: a first layer comprising a first ionomer and an additive, the additive comprising a metal oxide comprising an oxide at least one of of Ce, Mn, V, Pt, Ru, Zr, Ni, Cr, W, Co, Mo, or Sn, and wherein the additive is present in at least 0.1 weight percent of the ionomer is disclosed as one embodiment of the invention, and performance and durability are advantaged wherein one or all of the metal oxide consists essentially nanoparticles.

Additives for fuel cell layers

A fuel cell or a fuel cell stack component comprises an active area and a non-active area. A peroxide decomposing metal compound or metal alloy is disposed in or on the non-active area of a fuel cell or a fuel cell component. The metal compound or alloy is capable of providing a peroxide decomposing metal species that can migrate from the non-active area to an active area of a fuel cell. A fuel cell or membrane electrode assembly having a peroxide decomposing metal compound or alloy disposed in its non-active area exhibits improved durability.

Fuel cells having improved durability

Co(II)tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin additive to PFSA PEMS for improved fuel cell durability

A fuel cell includes a first flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel. A cathode catalyst layer is disposed over at least a portion of the first flow field plate. A polymeric ion conducting membrane is disposed over cathode catalyst layer. An anode catalyst layer is disposed over the polymeric ion conducting membrane. Finally, a second flow field plate defining at least one flow field channel is disposed over the anode catalyst layer. The polymeric ion conducting membrane extends beyond the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer such that the fuel cell has at least one peripheral region with the polymeric catalyst layer interposed between first flow field plate and the second flow field plate without the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer.

Fuel cell with spatially non-homogeneous ionic membrane

A membrane humidifier assembly includes a first flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a first gas thereto and a second flow field plate adapted to facilitate flow of a second gas thereto. A polymeric membrane is disposed between the first and second flow fields and adapted to permit transfer of water from the first flow field plate to the second flow field plate. The polymeric membrane includes a polymer having perfluorocyclobutyl groups.

Perfluorocyclobutane based water vapor transfer membranes

A polymer useful as an ion conductor in fuel cells includes a perfluorocyclobutyl moiety and pendant PFSA side groups. The polymer is made by a variation of the Ullmann reaction. Ion conducting membranes incorporating the polymer are provided.

Polyelectrolyte membranes made of poly(perfluorocyclobutanes) with pendant perfluorosulfonic acid groups and blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride)

An ion exchange membrane is prepared from a block copolymer comprising a hydrophobic polymer segment and a polar polymer segment. The ion exchange membrane is formed by placing a film layer in steam, water or an electric field at a temperature greater than about 40&#xb0; C. for sufficient amount of time to develop a bicontinuous morphology. The ion exchange membrane is also formed from a film layer comprising a block copolymer and a solvent. The film layer is placed in an electric field at an elevated temperature and dried therein. The film layer is thereby converted into an ion exchange membrane with bicontinuous morphology. The ion exchange membrane prepared according to these processes exhibits improved mechanical and electrochemical properties.

Ion exchange membrane having lamellar morphology and process of making the same

A polymer useful as an ion conducting membrane for fuel cell applications includes both main chain and side chain protogenic groups. Methods for preparing the polymer include addition of the side chains both before and after addition of the protogenic groups.

Combination of main-chain and side-chain sulfonation of PFCB-6F high-temperature fuel cell membranes

A blend composition comprises a fluorine-containing polymer electrolyte and a fluoro-rubber. An electrolyte membrane may be prepared from the blend composition. The electrolyte membrane may be used in electrochemical cells such as electrolyzers, batteries and fuel cells.

Blended PEM's with elastomers for improved mechanical durability

A composite membrane for fuel cell applications includes a support substrate with a predefined void volume. The void volume is at least partially filled with an ion conducting polymer composition. Characteristically, the ion conducting polymer composition includes a first polymer with a cyclobutyl moiety and a second polymer that is different than the first polymer.

Composite membrane

An ion conducting polymeric structure suitable for fuel cell applications is provided. The polymeric structure comprises a non-homogenous polymeric layer. The non-homogeneous layer is a blend of a first polymer comprising cyclobutyl moiety; and a second polymer having a non-ionic polymer segment. The weight ratio of the first polymer to the second polymer varies as a function of position within the non-homogenous layer. The blend composition may be cast into an electrolyte membrane that can be used to prepare electrochemical cells such as batteries and fuel cells.

Gradient reinforced proton exchange membrane

A method of forming an ionomeric membrane includes a step of reacting a first polymer in chlorosulfonic acid to form a first precipitate. The first precipitate comprising a polymer including a polymer unit having at least one &#x2014;SOCl moiety attached thereto and includes a step of dissolving the first precipitate in a polar aprotic solvent to form the first solution. A polymeric membrane is then formed from the first solution such that the membrane includes the polymer unit having at least one &#x2014;SOCl. The polymer including a polymer unit a polymer unit having at least one &#x2014;SOCl is then reacted with a nucleophilic compound to form the polymeric membrane.

Polyelectrolyte membranes derived from soluble perfluorocyclobutane polymers with sulfonyl chloride groups

A polymer blend useful as an ion conductor in fuel cells includes a first polymer having a cyclobutyl moiety and a second polymer include a sulfonic acid group.

Polyelectrolyte membranes comprised of blends of PFSA and sulfonated PFCB polymers

A polymer blend useful as an ion conductor in fuel cells includes a first polymer that includes a non-ionic segment and a second polymer that includes a sulfonic acid group.

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Fairport, NY, United States of America

Sean M MacKinnon