The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1997
G. K. Surya Prakash, Hacienda Hts., CA (US);
George A. Olah, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Marshall C. Smart, Studio City, CA (US);
Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Altadena, CA (US);
Qungie J. Wang, Huckessin, DE (US);
Subbarao Surumpudi, Glendora, CA (US);
Gerald Halpert, Pasadena, CA (US);
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A polymer electrolyte membrane composed of polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) crosslinked within a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix is provided. This membrane exhibits low methanol crossover which translates to higher fuel and fuel cell efficiencies. A fuel cell comprising a PSSA-PVDF membrane is also provided. Further, methods of decreasing the fuel crossover rate, enhancing fuel cell efficiency, and enhancing electrical performance of a fuel cell are provided.