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. 07, 2010
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2008
James E. Mcgrath, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Michael Hickner, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Feng Wang, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Yu-seung Kim, Blacksburg, VA (US);
James E. McGrath, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Michael Hickner, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Feng Wang, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Yu-Seung Kim, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US);
Abstract
Sulfonated polymers are made by the direct polymerization of a sulfonated monomer to form the sulfonated polymers. The types of sulfonated polymers may include polysulfones or polyimides. The sulfonated polymers can be formed into membranes that may be used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells or as ion exchange membranes. The membranes formed from the sulfonated polymers exhibit improved properties over that of Nafion®. A heteropoly acid may be added to the sulfonated polymer to form a nanocomposite membrane in which the heteropoly acid is highly dispersed. The addition of a heteropoly acid to the sulfonated polymer increases the thermal stability of the membrane, enhances the conductivity above 100° C., and reduces the water uptake of the membrane.