Volkswagen Ag

Elcomax Membranes Gmbh

Ulrich Mahr

Dieter Melzner

Annette Reiche

Oliver Gronwald

Suzana Kiel

The invention relates to hybrid membranes that are composed of an organic polymer and an inorganic polymer, a method for producing hybrid membranes, and the use of said hybrid membranes in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The inventive hybrid membranes comprise at least one alkaline organic polymer and at least one inorganic polymer. Said polymers are blended together at a molecular level. The inorganic polymer is formed from at least one precursor monomer when the membrane is produced. The disclosed membranes are characterized in that the same are provided with high absorptivity for doping agents, have a high degree of mechanical and thermal stability in both an undoped and doped state, and feature permanently high proton conductivity.

Hybrid membranes, method for production of hybrid membranes and fuel cells using such hybrid membranes

A proton-conducting electrolyte membrane is disclosed, comprising at least one base material and at least one dopant, which is the reaction product of an at least dibasic inorganic acid with an organic compound, comprising one acidic hydroxyl group, or the condensation product of said compound with a polybasic acid. The membrane may be produced by a single step method, which avoids the use of dangerous materials and environmental pollutants. Subsequent doping of the membrane, e.g., in conjunction with assembly of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is not excluded. The electrolyte membrane has a high and constant mechanical stability and flexibility, excellent chemical and thermal stability and a high and constant conductivity. The membrane may be used in a fuel cell in a wide temperature range from 50&#xb0; C. to more than 200&#xb0; C., for example, whereby the fuel cell has a high and constant power level over the entire temperature range.

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Berlin, Germany

Ulrich Mahr