Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1067—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by their physical properties, e.g. porosity, ionic conductivity or thickness
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
  • B01D53/22—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by diffusion
  • B01D53/228—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by diffusion characterised by specific membranes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D69/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
  • B01D69/10—Supported membranes; Membrane supports
  • B01D69/108—Inorganic support material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D69/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by their form, structure or properties; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
  • B01D69/12—Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
  • B01D69/125—In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J5/00—Manufacture of articles or shaped materials containing macromolecular substances
  • C08J5/20—Manufacture of shaped structures of ion-exchange resins
  • C08J5/22—Films, membranes or diaphragms
  • C08J5/2206—Films, membranes or diaphragms based on organic and/or inorganic macromolecular compounds
  • C08J5/2275—Heterogeneous membranes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/02—Details
  • H01M8/0289—Means for holding the electrolyte
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/102—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer
  • H01M8/1023—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer having only carbon, e.g. polyarylenes, polystyrenes or polybutadiene-styrenes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/102—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer
  • H01M8/1025—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer having only carbon and oxygen, e.g. polyethers, sulfonated polyetheretherketones [S-PEEK], sulfonated polysaccharides, sulfonated celluloses or sulfonated polyesters
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/102—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer
  • H01M8/1027—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer having carbon, oxygen and other atoms, e.g. sulfonated polyethersulfones [S-PES]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/102—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer
  • H01M8/1032—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer having sulfur, e.g. sulfonated-polyethersulfones [S-PES]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1039—Polymeric electrolyte materials halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1041—Polymer electrolyte composites, mixtures or blends
  • H01M8/1044—Mixtures of polymers, of which at least one is ionically conductive
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1058—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by a porous support having no ion-conducting properties
  • H01M8/106—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by a porous support having no ion-conducting properties characterised by the chemical composition of the porous support
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1058—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by a porous support having no ion-conducting properties
  • H01M8/1062—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by a porous support having no ion-conducting properties characterised by the physical properties of the porous support, e.g. its porosity or thickness
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2323/00—Details relating to membrane preparation
  • B01D2323/28—Pore treatments
  • B01D2323/286—Closing of pores, e.g. for membrane sealing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0017—Non-aqueous electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0065—Solid electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0082—Organic polymers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0088—Composites
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M6/00—Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M6/14—Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte
  • H01M6/18—Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte with solid electrolyte
  • H01M6/181—Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte with solid electrolyte with polymeric electrolytes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1009—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged
  • H01M8/1011—Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

• This invention relates to novel composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) for use in electrochemical applications. Methods for producing the composite membranes of the invention are also disclosed.
• SPEMs solid polymer electrolyte membranes
• military applications include, but are not limited to, submersibles, surface ships, portable/mobile field generating units, and low power units (i.e., battery replacements).
• low range power sources a few watts to a few kilowatts
• Commercial applications include transportation (i.e., automotive, bus, truck and railway), communications, on-site cogeneration and stationary power generation.
• Fuel cells are highly efficient electrochemical energy conversion devices that directly convert the chemical energy derived from renewable fuel into electrical energy.
• Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells have a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between a positive electrode (cathode) and a negative electrode (anode).
• the polymer electrolyte membrane is composed of an ion-exchange polymer (i.e., ionomer). Its role is to provide a means for ionic transport and prevent mixing of the molecular forms of the fuel and the oxidant.
• Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells are an ideal source of quiet, efficient, and lightweight power. While batteries have reactants contained within their structure which eventually are used up, fuel cells use air and hydrogen to operate continuously. Their fuel efficiency is high (45 to 50 percent), they do not produce noise, operate over a wide power range (10 watts to several hundred kilowatts), and are relatively simple to design, manufacture and operate. Further, SPEFCs currently have the highest power density of all fuel cell types. In addition, SPEFCs do not produce any environmentally hazardous emissions such as NO x and SO x (typical combustion by-products).
• the traditional SPEFC contains a solid polymer ion-exchange membrane that lies between two gas diffusion electrodes, an anode and a cathode, each commonly containing a metal catalyst supported by an electrically conductive material.
• the gas diffusion electrodes are exposed to the respective reactant gases, the reductant gas and the oxidant gas.
• An electrochemical reaction occurs at each of the two junctions (three phase boundaries) where one of the electrodes, electrolyte polymer membrane and reactant gas interface.
• Ion exchange membranes play a vital role in SPEFCs.
• the ion-exchange membrane has two functions: (1) it acts as the electrolyte that provides ionic communication between the anode and cathode; and (2) it serves as a separator for the two reactant gases (e.g., O 2 and H 2 ).
• the ion- exchange membrane while serving as a good proton transfer membrane, must also have low permeability for the reactant gases to avoid cross-over phenomena that reduce performance of the fuel cell. This is especially important in fuel cell applications in which the reactant gases are under pressure and the fuel cell is operated at elevated temperatures.
• Fuel cell reactants are classified as oxidants and reductants on the basis of their electron acceptor or electron donor characteristics.
• Oxidants include pure oxygen, oxygen-containing gases (e.g., air) and halogens (e.g., chlorine).
• Reductants include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, natural gas, methane, ethane, formaldehyde and methanol.
• Optimized proton and water transports of the membrane and proper water management are also crucial for efficient fuel cell application. Dehydration of the membrane reduces proton conductivity, and excess water can lead to swelling of the membranes. Inefficient removal of by-product water can cause flooding of the electrodes hindering gas access. Both of these conditions lead to poor cell performance.
• SPEFCs have not yet been commercialized due to unresolved technical problems and high overall cost.
• One major deficiency impacting the commercialization of the SPEFC is the inherent limitations of today's leading membrane and electrode assemblies.
• the membranes employed must operate at elevated/high temperatures (>120°C) so as to provide increased power density, and limit catalyst sensitivity to fuel impurities. This would also allow for applications such as on-site cogeneration (high quality waste heat in addition to electrical power).
• Current membranes also allow excessive methanol crossover in liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells (dependent on actual operating conditions, but is typically equivalent to a current density loss of about 50 to 200 mA/cm 2 @ 0.5V). This crossover results in poor fuel efficiency as well as limited performance levels.
• the Nafion® membrane technology is well known in the art and is described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,282,875 and 4,330,654.
• Unreinforced Nafion® membranes are used almost exclusively as the ion exchange membrane in present SPEFC applications.
• This membrane is fabricated from a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and a perfluorovinyl ethersulfonyl fluoride.
• the vinyl ether comonomer is copolymerized with TFE to form a melt- processable polymer. Once in the desired shape, the sulfonyl fluoride group is hydrolyzed into the ionic sulfonate form.
• the fluorocarbon component and the ionic groups are incompatible or immiscible (the former is hydrophobic, the latter is hydrophilic). This causes a phase separation, which leads to the formation of interconnected hydrated ionic "clusters".
• the properties of these clusters determine the electrochemical characteristics of the polymer, since protons are conducted through the membrane as they "hop" from one ionic cluster to another. To ensure proton flow, each ionic group needs a minimum amount of water to surround it and form a cluster. If the ionic group concentration is too low (or hydration is insufficient) proton transfer will not occur. At higher ionic group concentrations (or increased hydration levels) proton conductivity is improved, but membrane mechanical characteristics are sacrificed.
• the Nafion® membrane/electrode is also very expensive to produce, and as a result it is not (yet) commercially viable. Reducing membrane cost is crucial to the commercialization of SPEFCs. It is estimated that membrane cost must be reduced by at least an order of magnitude from the Nafion® model for SPEFCs to become commercially attractive.
• Gore-Select® Another type of ion-conducting membrane, Gore-Select® (commercially available from W.L. Gore), is currently being developed for fuel cell applications. Gore-Select® membranes are further detailed in a series of U.S. Patents (U.S. 5,635,041, 5,547,551 and 5,599,614). Gore discloses a composite membrane consisting of a porous Teflon® film filled with a Nafion® or Nafion®-like ion-conducting solution.
• Teflon® and Nafion® materials selected and employed by Gore as the film substrate and the ion-exchange material, respectively, may not be appropriate for operation in high temperature SPEFCs. Teflon® undergoes extensive creep at temperatures above 80°C, and Nafion® and similar ionomers swell and soften above the same temperature. This can result in the widening of interconnected channels in the membrane and allow performance degradation, especially at elevated temperatures and pressures.
• Gore-Select® as well as many other types of perfluorinated ion- conducting membranes (e.g., Aciplex from Asahi Chemical, Flemion® from Asahi Glass, Japan), are just as costly as Nafion®, since these membranes employ a high percentage of perfluorinated ionomers.
• Poly(trifluorostyrene) copolymers have been studied as membranes for use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. See e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,422,411. However, these membranes are suspected to have poor mechanical and film forming properties. In addition, these membranes may be expensive due to the inherent difficulties in processing fluorinated polymers.
• Sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketones) developed by Hoechst AG are described in European Patent No. 574,891, A2. These polymers can be crosslinked by primary and secondary amines. However, when used as membranes and tested in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, only modest cell performance is observed.
• Patent Nos. 3,528,858 and 3,226,361 also have been investigated as membrane materials for SPEFCs. However, these materials suffer from poor chemical resistance and mechanical properties that limit their use in SPEFC applications.
• Solid polymer membranes comprising a sulfonated poly(2,6 dimethyl 1 ,4 phenylene oxide) alone or blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride) also have been investigated. These membranes are disclosed in WO 97/24777. However, these membranes are known to be especially vulnerable to degradation from peroxide radicals.
• the present invention provides innovative solid polymer electrolyte membranes that are capable of operating at much higher temperatures and pressures than those known in the art. Methods for producing such membranes are also provided. The membrane manufacturing technologies developed emphasize improved performance at reduced cost.
• a central object of the invention is to provide an improved solid polymer electrolyte membrane (SPEM) having the following characteristics: high ionic conductivity, high resistance to dehydration, high mechanical strength, chemical stability during oxidation and hydrolysis, low gas permeability to limit parasitic losses, and stability at elevated temperatures and pressures.
• SPEM solid polymer electrolyte membrane
• Another object of the invention is to provide an improved solid polymer electrolyte membrane with electronic conductivity approaching zero, dimensional stability, and a membrane that is non-brittle in both dry and wet forms.
• a further object of the invention is to provide methods that can be employed to produce these solid polymer electrolyte membranes.
• Another object of this invention is to provide novel polymer substrates and ion-conducting materials and novel combinations thereof.
• Yet another object of the present invention is to provide SPEMs that are substantially stable to temperatures of at least about 100°C, preferably to at least about 150°C, more preferably to at least about 175°C.
• Foster-Miller has discovered that a high performance SPEM, suitable for use in fuel cells, can be produced by interpenetrating a porous polymer substrate with an ion-conducting material to form a composite membrane.
• This composite ion-conducting membrane will exhibit the strength and thermal stability of the polymer substrate and the ionic conductivity of the ion-conducting material.
• the composite SPEM of the present invention comprises a porous polymer substrate that is interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material.
• the present invention also provides novel substrates and novel substrate/ion-conducting material combinations. These materials can be tailored and combined to produce membranes useful over a range of operating conditions and/or applications.
• Preferred polymer substrates are easily synthesized from commercially- available, low-cost starting polymers, into thin, substantially defect free polymeric films which have high strength even at low thickness (in preferred embodiments less than about 1 mil), outstanding crease/crack resistance and high tear strength.
• Preferred polymer substrates are substantially chemically resistant to acids, bases, free radicals and solvents (e.g., methanol) and are thermally and hydro lytically stable from temperatures of about 50°C to 300°C. In preferred embodiments, the polymer substrates are thermally and hydrolytically stable to temperatures of at least about 100°C.
• Preferred polymer substrates possess exceptional mechanical properties (much greater than about 2500 psi tensile, much less than about 100% elongation to break), dimensional stability, barrier properties (to methanol, water vapor, oxygen and hydrogen) even at elevated temperatures and pressures and exceptional gauge uniformity (+/- 0J mils preferable).
• Preferred polymer substrates have a pore size range of 10 A to 2000 A more preferably 500 A to 1000 A, and have a porosity range from about 40% to about 90%.
• the polymer substrate of the SPEM comprises a lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer, such as a polybenzazole (PBZ) or polyaramid (PAR or Kevlar®) polymer.
• PBZ polybenzazole
• PAR polyaramid
• PBO polybenzoxazole
• PBT polybenzothiazole
• PBI polybenzimidazole
• Preferred polyaramid polymers include polypara-phenylene terephthalimide (PPTA) polymers.
• the polymer substrate of the SPEM comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset aromatic polymer.
• Preferred aromatic polymers include: polysulfone (PSU), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene sulfoxide (PPSO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene sulfide sulfone (PPS/SO 2 ), polyparaphenylene (PPP), polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ), polyarylketone (PK) and polyetherketone (PEK) polymers.
• PSU polysulfone
• PI polyimide
• PPO polyphenylene oxide
• PPSO polyphenylene sulfoxide
• PPS polyphenylene sulfide
• PPS/SO 2 polyparaphenylene
• PPP polyphenylquinoxaline
• PK polyarylketone
• PEK polyetherketone
• Preferred polysulfone polymers include polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherethersulfone (PEES), polyarylsulfone, polyarylethersulfone (PAS), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) and polyphenylenesulfone (PPSO 2 ) polymers.
• Prefened polyimide polymers include the polyetherimide polymers as well as fluorinated polyimides.
• Prefened polyetherketone polymers include polyetherketone (PEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone-ketone (PEKK), polyetheretherketone-ketone (PEEKK) and polyetherketoneetherketone- ketone (PEKEKK) polymers.
• Prefened ion-conducting materials for use in the fuel cells of the present invention are easily sulfonated or synthesized from commercially-available, low- cost starting polymers (or monomers), and are swellable, but highly insoluble in boiling water (100°C) or aqueous methanol (>50%) over extended time periods.
• Prefened ion-conducting materials have limited methanol permeability (limited methanol diffusivity and solubility) even at elevated temperatures and pressures, are substantially chemically stable to acids and free radicals, and thermally/hydro lytically stable to temperatures of at least about 100°C.
• Prefened ion-conducting materials have an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of >1.0meq./g dry membrane (preferably, 1.5 to 2.0meq./g) and are highly ion-conducting (preferably, from about 0.01 to about 0.5S/cm, more preferably, to greater than about 0J S/cm or ⁇ 10 ⁇ cm resistivity).
• IEC ion-exchange capacity
• Prefened ion-conducting materials are easily cast into films and/or imbibed into the porous polymer substrate. Such films are durable, substantially defect-free, and dimensionally stable (less than about 20% change in dimension wet to dry), preferably even above temperatures of at least about 100°C. Particularly prefened ion-conducting materials have the ability to survive operation in fuel cells (i.e., H 2 /O 2 , methanol) for at least about 5000 hours (e.g., automotive applications).
• fuel cells i.e., H 2 /O 2 , methanol
• the ion-conducting material of the SPEM comprises a sulfonated, phosphonated or carboxylated ion- conducting aromatic polymer.
• a sulfonated derivative of at least one of the above-listed thermoset or thermoplastic aromatic polymers may also comprise a sulfonated derivative of a polybenzazole or polyaramid polymer.
• the ion-conducting material of the SPEM of the present invention comprises a non-aromatic polymer, such as a perfluorinated ionomer.
• a non-aromatic polymer such as a perfluorinated ionomer.
• Prefened ionomers include carboxylic, phosphonic or sulfonic acid substituted perfluorinated vinyl ethers.
• prefened ion-conducting materials for use in the present invention include polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA), polytrifluorostyrene sulfonic acid, polyvinyl phosphonic acid (PVP A), polyvinyl carboxylic acid (PVCA) and polyvinyl sulfonic acid (PVSA) polymers, and metal salts thereof.
• PSSA polystyrene sulfonic acid
• PV A polyvinyl phosphonic acid
• PVCA polyvinyl carboxylic acid
• PVSA polyvinyl sulfonic acid
• Substrate and ion-conducting materials for use in the present invention may be substituted or unsubstituted and may be homopolymers, copolymers of the polymers listed above, or other blends. Any desired substituents may be incorporated into the classes of substrate and ion-conducting polymers described herein for use in the present invention, provided that such substituents do not substantially impair the properties desired for the intended use of the polymer, as may readily be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such properties may include ionic conductivity, chemical and structural stability, swelling properties and so forth. Blends could be of sulfonated (substituted) polymers or substituted/unsubstituted polymers.
• the utility of blending polymers for the ion-conducting or the substrate polymers is in optimizing each of their properties. Unlike simple mixing, blending does not create a composite material with two dispersed components. Rather, the blend is uniform in composition throughout. In the case of ion- conducting polymers, it might be useful to blend a sulfonated polymer with an unsulfonated one to optimize swelling, fuel crossover resistance, conductivity, peroxide resistance, hydrolytic stability and the like. Similarly, the blending of two sulfonated polymers might allow improved properties over each individual component. This concept can be extended to the substrate polymer, whereby blending may allow improvements in strength, cost, processability, or stability.
• one prefened method of fabricating a membrane of the present invention comprises the following steps: solubilizing the ion-conducting material, preparing a porous substrate membrane, solvent exchanging the water swollen membrane, imbibing the solvent swollen substrate with the ion- conducting material via solution infiltration (such that the microinfrastructure of the porous polymer substrate is substantially interpenetrated with the ion-conducting material). Upon solvent evaporation and drying, the microporous substrate will collapse locking the ion-conductor within the microinfrastructure of the polymer substrate.
• Post imbibing steps may include tension drying, stretching and hot pressing of the composite membrane.
• the substrate provides mechanical and chemical stability, while the ion-conductor provides a high- flux proton path.
• the SPEMs of the present invention also act as a barrier against fuel (H 2 , O 2 and methanol permeation) in fuel cell applications.
• Another prefened method of producing the membranes of the present invention comprises the steps of preparing a mixture of the polymer substrate and the ion-conducting material in a common solvent and casting a composite membrane from the mixture.
• Prefened solvents for these methods include tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), N-Methyl-2-pynolidinone (NMP), sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and methanesulfonic acid (MSA).
• THF tetrahydrofuran
• DMAc dimethylacetamide
• DMF dimethylformamide
• DMSO dimethylsulfoxide
• NMP N-Methyl-2-pynolidinone
• sulfuric acid sulfuric acid
• phosphoric acid chlorosulfonic acid
• PPA polyphosphoric acid
• MSA methanesulfonic acid
• MSA methanesulfonic acid
• Another method of producing a membrane of the present invention comprises the steps of sulfonating the pores of the polymer substrate with a sulfonating agent.
• Still another method for producing a composite membrane of the present invention comprises the steps of preparing the substrate polymer and subsequently impregnating the substrate with appropriate monomers which are then polymerized in-situ to form the composite SPEM.
• Yet another method of producing a membrane of the present invention comprises the steps of preparing a mixture of a polymer substrate material and an ion-conducting material and extruding a composite film directly from the mixture.
• the membranes of the present invention are useful in a variety of electrochemical devices, including fuel cells, electronic devices, systems for membrane-based water electrolysis, chloralkali electrolysis, dialysis or electrodialysis, pervaporation or gas separation.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic illustrating the preparation of one type or method of a composite membrane of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a graph of % dry loading of ICP/PBO vs. initial ICP solution wt.% for Nafion®/PBO, sulfonated Radel R®/PBO and sulfonated Sulfide- Sulfone/PBO, in accordance with the present invention.
• the composite membranes of the present invention are designed to address the present shortcomings of today's solid polymer electrolyte membranes, specifically Nafion® and other like membranes (e.g., Gore-Select®).
• the present invention provides a relatively low cost, composite solid polymer electrolyte membrane (SPEM), with improved power density and reduced sensitivity to carbon monoxide in hydrogen fuel. It may also alleviate water management problems which limit the efficiency of present Nafion® membrane-based fuel cells.
• SPEM composite solid polymer electrolyte membrane
• the composite membranes of the present invention may be employed in various applications, including but not limited to, polarity-based chemical separations; electrolysis; fuel cells and batteries; pervaporation; reverse osmosis - water purification, gas separation; dialysis separation; industrial electrochemistry, such as choralkali production and other electrochemical applications; water splitting and subsequent recovery of acids and bases from waste water solutions; use as a super acid catalyst; use as a medium in enzyme immobilization, for example; or use as an electrode separator in conventional batteries.
• the composite SPEMs of the present invention comprise a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with an ion-conducting material.
• the porous polymer substrate serves as a mechanically, thermally, chemically and oxidatively durable support for the ion-conducting material, e.g., polymer.
• Ion-conducting polymers with very high ion-exchange capacities (preferably, IEC>1.0 meq./g; more preferably, IEC 1.5 - 2.0 meq./g) can be used in SPEMs of the present invention, since the strength properties of the ICP are not needed for membrane mechanical integrity.
• the porous polymer substrate is characterized by a microinfrastructure of channels that have substantially uniform, unchanging dimensions (Tg is higher than use temperature). That is, the substrate material will not flow, since the fuel cell operating temperature is less than the Tg of the substrate.
• the ion-conducting polymer substantially interpenetrates the microinfrastructure of the porous polymer substrate. This configuration, which can be made quite thin, promotes efficient proton transport across the membrane and minimizes water management problems. As a consequence, eventual membrane dehydration, parasitic losses and loss of ionic conductivity can be substantially prevented.
• thermally stable, wholly aromatic polymers are used in producing the composite membranes of the present invention, but any material(s) meeting the following requirements may generally be used: low cost, high ionic conductivity, electronically insulating, impermeable to fuel (H 2 , O 2 , methanol) at elevated temperatures and pressures in fuel cell applications, chemically resistant to acids, bases and free radicals, Tg above fuel cell operating temperature (at least about 175°C is prefened), minimal water transport rate during operation, resistance to puncture or burst during operation at high temperatures and pressures, and maintenance of ionic conductivity at elevated/high operating temperatures.
• fuel H 2 , O 2 , methanol
• Prefened polymer substrates are easily synthesized from commercially- available, low-cost starting polymers, into thin, substantially defect free polymeric films which have high strength even at low thickness (preferably less than about 1 mil), outstanding crease/crack resistance and high tear strength.
• Prefened polymer substrates are substantially chemically resistant to acids, bases, free radicals and solvents (i.e., methanol) and are thermally and hydrolytically stable from temperatures of about 50°C to 300°C.
• Prefened polymer substrates possess exceptional mechanical properties (much greater than about 2500 psi tensile, much less than about 100% elongation to break), dimensional stability, barrier properties (to methanol, water vapor, oxygen and hydrogen) even at elevated temperatures and pressures and exceptional gauge uniformity (+/- 0J mils preferable).
• the polymer substrates are thermally and hydrolytically stable to temperatures of at least about 100°C.
• Prefened polymer substrates have a pore size range of 10 A to 2000 A more preferably 500 A to 1000 A, and have a porosity range from about 40% to 90%.
• the porous polymer substrate of the SPEM comprises a lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer, such as a polybenzazole (PBZ) or polyaramid (PAR or Kevlar®) polymer.
• PBZ polybenzazole
• PAR polyaramid
• Prefened polybenzazole polymers include polybenzoxazole (PBO), polybenzothiazole (PBT) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymers.
• Prefened polyaramid polymers include polypara-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) polymers. Structures of the above-mentioned polymers are listed in Table 4.
• the porous polymer substrate of the SPEM comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset aromatic polymer.
• aromatic polymers include the following: polysulfone (PSU), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene sulfoxide (PPSO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene sulfide sulfone (PPS/SO 2 ), polyparaphenylene (PPP), polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ), polyarylketone (PK) and polyetherketone (PEK) polymers.
• PSU polysulfone
• PI polyimide
• PPO polyphenylene oxide
• PPSO polyphenylene sulfoxide
• PPS polyphenylene sulfide
• PPS/SO 2 polyparaphenylene
• PP polyphenylquinoxaline
• PK polyarylketone
• PEK polyetherketone
• Prefened polysulfone polymers include polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherethersulfone (PEES), polyarylsulfone, polyarylethersulfone (PAS), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) and polyphenylenesulfone (PPSO 2 ) polymers.
• Prefened polyimide polymers include the polyetherimide polymers and fluorinated polyimides.
• Prefened polyetherketone polymers include polyetherketone (PEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone-ketone (PEKK), polyetheretherketone-ketone (PEEKK) and polyetherketoneetherketone- ketone (PEKEKK) polymers. The structures of the above polymers are listed in Tables 5 and 6 below.
• the porous polymer substrate comprises a PBO or a PES polymer.
• the porous polymer substrate comprises a PBO polymer, such as a poly(bisbenzoxazole).
• the PBO polymer is a member of a class of polymeric materials collectively refened to as ordered polymers.
• PBO forms liquid crystalline solutions from which extremely strong, stiff fibers and films have been processed.
• Foster-Miller has pioneered the development of innovative methods for processing PBO into microporous high- strength, high-modulus thermally-stable films that are useful for a multitude of high-performance applications, e.g., in advanced aircraft and spacecraft.
• the PBO polymer When the PBO polymer is in a dry (entirely collapsed) form, it has the following characteristics: high strength and dimensional stability, superior barrier (gaseous) properties, excellent crease/crack resistance, excellent tear strength, and superior thermal and hydrolytic temperature stability (>300°C).
• Film- forming processes involve several operations in which a PBO polymer solution in polyphosphoric acid undergoes a succession of structural changes, leading to the final product form.
• One basic process for producing PBO products includes extrusion of the polymer substrate solution (polymer and acid solvent), coagulation to lock-in the microstructure, washing to remove the acid solvent, and drying (at high temperatures) to remove the exchanged water and consolidate the polymer into the end product.
• the PBO film is extruded and multiaxially oriented using a blown process as disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,939,235, 4,963,428 and 5,288,529 which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the degree of multiaxial orientation can be varied from ⁇ of ⁇ 5° to 65°, though an orientation of 22° to 30° is prefened.
• the following problems may be encountered: substrate film delamination, imbibtion of an insufficient amount of ion-conducting material inside the porous substrate and/or inability to maintain, if desired, a smooth outer layer of ion-conducting polymer for proper electrode bonding.
• substrate film delamination imbibtion of an insufficient amount of ion-conducting material inside the porous substrate and/or inability to maintain, if desired, a smooth outer layer of ion-conducting polymer for proper electrode bonding.
• These problems may be overcome by heating of the ion-conducting polymer solution during imbibtion into the substrate (which decreases the solution viscosity and swells the pores of the substrate) and using less oriented films (which allows more ion-conducting material into the substrate).
• the polymer substrate processing system includes a hydraulic flask, extruder, pump, counter-rotating die (CRD), porous sizing ring, water wash tank/collapse shed and film take-up system.
• the take-up system includes a 3" porous sizing ring followed by a 6" diameter take-up roll along with a 4" diameter spooler. A number of CRDs and annular configurations may be used.
• a liquid to solid phase transition is induced by diffusion of a non-solvent (water) into the PBO solution.
• a non-solvent water
• the final structure of the solid is established. It is believed that the structure formed during the coagulation stage of PBO fiber and film is an interconnected network of highly oriented micro fibrils of 80 A to 100 A diameter. Such films have been dried under tension in order to produce high tensile properties.
• the micropores present as spaces between microfibrils in PBO film undergo substantial shrinkage decreasing in dimensions from several thousand Angstroms (e.g., 2000 A) in size to less than 10 A in size for the dried, heat-treated PBO film. The final pore size depends highly upon the heat treatment methods employed.
• a porous polymer substrate for the present invention instead of drying the water from the network, the water is replaced by the desired ion- conducting material.
• a high performance PBO fuel cell membrane can be produced by interpenetrating or infusing the interior porosity of water- swollen PBO films with concentrated or dilute solutions of ion-conducting polymers, such as Nafion® or polyethersulfone sulfonic acid.
• ion-conducting polymers such as Nafion® or polyethersulfone sulfonic acid.
• the Nafion® regions within the pores (and coating on the surface) of the film will form a highly ionically-conducting gelatinous Nafion® membrane supported by the porous PBO membrane substrate.
• SPEMs exhibit the strength and thermal stability of PBO and the excellent ionic conductivity of water-swollen Nafion® copolymer.
• the substrate will accommodate about 40 to about 90 volume percent, preferably about 70 to about 80 volume percent, of ion-conducting polymer.
• a second prefened polymer substrate comprises a PES polymer.
• PES is a high use temperature amorphous thermoplastic that exhibits long-term stability at elevated temperature (>175°C).
• the microporous PES substrate represents a new class of high performance fuel cell membranes that can be used to solve the difficulties inherent in cunent Nafion® membranes as discussed above.
• PES is readily available from Amoco Polymers, Inc. in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA, in large quantity at low cost. This polymer exhibits the combination of desirable properties required for efficient function at much higher temperatures and pressures than are now possible (potentially greater than about 175°C temperature and greater than about 100 psi gas pressure).
• Microporous PES films for use in the SPEMs of the present invention can be produced via standard film casting techniques or purchased directly from appropriate vendors.
• PES is dissolved in an appropriate water-miscible solvent to a predetermined concentration.
• a solution of PES is selected to produce a film with high porosity.
• the PES solution is then cast onto glass plates to form a film, e.g., about 10 mils thick. Immersion of the plates in water coagulates the polymer and leaches out the solvent forming the microporous substrate membrane in a water swollen state.
• the ion-conducting polymer can then be introduced into the microporous voids of the water swollen PES substrate membrane using solvent exchange processes to form the composite membrane.
• the membrane can be dried first and then infiltrated with the ion-conducting solution using vacuum to remove air bubbles and fill the pores with ion-conducting polymer.
• the membrane may also be produced by an extrusion process as described herein.
• Prefened ion-conducting polymers for use in the present invention are easily sulfonated or synthesized from commercially-available, low-cost starting polymers, and are swellable, but highly insoluble in boiling water (100°C) or aqueous methanol (>50%) over extended time periods.
• Prefened ion-conducting polymers have limited methanol permeability (limited methanol diffusivity and solubility) even at elevated temperatures and pressures, are substantially chemically stable to acids and free radicals, and thermally/hydrolytically stable to temperatures of at least about 100°C.
• Prefened ion-conducting polymers have an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) of >1.0meq./g dry membrane (preferably, 1.5 to 2.0meq./g) and are highly ion-conducting (preferably, from about 0.01 to about 0.5S/cm, more preferably, to greater than about 0.1 S/cm or ⁇ 10 ⁇ cm resistivity).
• IEC ion-exchange capacity
• Prefened ion-conducting polymers are easily cast into films and/or imbibed into the polymer substrate. Such films are durable, substantially defect-free, and dimensionally stable (less than about 20% change in dimension wet to dry) even above temperatures of at least about 100°C.
• Prefened ion-conducting polymers have the ability to survive operation in fuel cells (i.e., H 2 /O 2 , methanol) for at least about 5000 hours (e.g., automotive applications).
• Prefened ion-conducting polymers are substantially chemically stable to free radicals.
• the peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) screening test serves as an accelerated fuel cell life test. The test simulates long term fuel cell operation by exposing the subject aqueous ion-conducting membrane to a peroxide/iron solution at 68°C for 8.0 hours. Under these conditions, aggressive hydroperoxide (HOO-) radicals are produced. It has been shown that these radicals are formed during normal H 2 /O 2 fuel cell operation, and are the prominent membrane degradation mechanism.
• the stability of the ion-conducting polymer may be enhanced by several post-processing steps. These steps include the following: (i) cross- linking the ion-conducting polymer in the H+ form to develop sulfone crosslinks; (ii) addition of small amounts of antioxidants (insoluble) into the ion-conducting polymer; and (iii) chlorination / bromination of the ion-conducting polymer backbone, thereby reducing degradation sites.
• Crosslinking methods can provide or enhance peroxide stability. Additionally, various procedures are described in the literature wherein sulfonated polymers can be crosslinked to further enhance the barrier properties of the ion- conducting polymer. See e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,795,496; Kenes, et al., "New Ionomers and their Applications in PEM Fuel Cells", ICE, Stuttgart, Germany (1996); and Kenes, et al., J. Membrane Sci. 139:211-225 (1998). For example, U.S. Patent No.
• 5,795,496 describes a method of crosslinking ion-conducting polymers via the SO 3 H groups (sulfonic acid groups) to form sulfone crosslinks between polymer chains.
• This method entails sulfonating the polymer (e.g., PEEK) using concentrated sulfuric acid, casting of a film, then heating the film to a temperature of 120°C under vacuum. It is the heating step which causes the crosslinking to occur.
• crosslinking procedure results in decreased ionic conductivity, water adsorbtion and swelling of the polymer.
• adjustments can be made to the crosslinking procedures employed in order to minimize the sacrifice of ionic conductivity.
• additives can also provide or enhance peroxide stability.
• Polymer additives have been evaluated that can be used as radical scavengers within the ion-conducting component of the SPEMs of the present invention. Examples of these include Irganox 1135 (Primary Phenolic Antioxidant, commercially available from Ciba Geigy) and DTTDP (Di(tridecyl) Thiodipropionate, Secondary Antioxidant, commercially available from Hampshire).
• the ion-conducting component polymer can be crosslinked via heating to slow membrane degradation.
• Chlorination or bromination of the sulfonated polymer also may be used to increase the usable lifetime of the ion-conducting polymer.
• the combination of reduction in active (attack) sites and increased electron withdrawing properties of such reactions may be beneficial to slow membrane degration.
• various methods may be employed to purify the ion- conducting material to optimize or enhance its properties and long-term stability.
• the ion-conducting material e.g., sulfonated PPSU
• a solvent e.g., NMP
• the ion-conducting material of the SPEM comprises a sulfonated (SO 3 H), phosphonated (PO(OH) 2 ) or carboxylated (COOH) aromatic polymer.
• SO 3 H sulfonated
• PO(OH) 2 phosphonated
• COOH carboxylated
• the ion-conducting material may comprise a sulfonated derivative of at least one of the above-listed thermoset or thermoplastic aromatic polymers. It may also comprise a sulfonated derivative of a polybenzazole or polyaramid polymer.
• the ion-conducting material of the SPEM of the present invention comprises a non-aromatic polymer, such as a perfluorinated ionomer.
• Prefened ionomers include carboxylic, phosphonic or sulfonic acid substituted substituted perfluorinated vinyl ethers.
• Other prefened ion-conducting materials for use in the present invention include polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA), polytrifluorostyrene sulfonic acid, polyvinyl phosphonic acid (PVP A), polyvinyl carboxylic acid (PVCA) and polyvinyl sulfonic acid (PVSA) polymers, and metal salts thereof.
• the ion-conducting material comprises a sulfonated derivative of a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfoxide (PPSO) and polyphenylenesulfide-sulfone (PPS/SO 2 ).
• PPSU polyphenylsulfone
• PES polyethersulfone
• PI polyimide
• PPSO polyphenylene sulfoxide
• PPS/SO 2 polyphenylenesulfide-sulfone
• surfactants or surface active agents having a hydrophobic portion and hydrophilic portion may be utilized in promoting the inte ⁇ enetration of the ion-conducting polymer into the pores of the polymer substrate.
• surfactants or surface active agents having a hydrophobic portion and hydrophilic portion may be utilized in promoting the inte ⁇ enetration of the ion-conducting polymer into the pores of the polymer substrate.
• These agents are well known in the art and include Triton X-100 (commercially available from Rohm & Haas of Philadelphia, PA).
• Compatibilizers may also be employed in producing composite membranes of the present invention.
• "compatibilizers” refer to agents that aid in the blendability of two or more polymers that would otherwise be resistant to such blending. Examples include block copolymers containing connecting segments of each component. These include both potential substrate and/or ion-conducting polymer components.
• the SPEMs and methods of the present invention will be illustrated by specific combinations of polymer substrates and ion-conducting polymers. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited in use to any particular polymer substrate or ion-conducting material. Rather, the present teachings are suitable for any polymer substrate and ion-conducting material meeting the criteria set forth herein.
• These methods include imbibing a porous substrate membrane with an ion-conducting material, casting a composite membrane from a common solvent, sulfonating the pores of a suitable polymer substrate to form a composite SPEM of the present invention, polymerization of the ion-conducting polymer (in-situ) within the pores of the porous substrate, and extruding a composite film directly from the mixture of a polymer substrate and ion-conducting material.
• the first method uses Nafion® as an example of a suitable ion-exchange material, in order to demonstrate the clear advantage of using the composite SPEM of the present invention.
• a porous membrane having the desired pore size and pore content is made using a suitable polymer substrate, e.g., PES or PBO. Either casting or extrusion processes are utilized to produce these membranes as described above.
• the pores of the porous polymer substrate membrane are then inte ⁇ enetrated with an ion-conducting polymer, e.g., solubilized Nafion® ion-conducting polymer.
• the porous membrane is then dried in vacuum to produce a high ionically conducting gel within the micropores and as thin coatings on the surfaces of the composite membrane.
• the flexible, pressure-resistant, high Tg, porous substrate provides puncture and crush-resistance to the thin coating of ion conductor membrane and also to the Nafion®-filled micropores even at temperatures above 175°C (the Tg of PES is 220°C, PBO has no Tg).
• Composite membrane proportions are controlled during the imbibtion processes by varying the %wt. of ion-conducting material in solution producing a membrane with the target mechanical properties and ionic conductivity.
• the substrate polymer is dissolved in an appropriate water-miscible solvent to a predetermined concentration.
• the wt.% solution of polymer substrate is selected to produce a film with high pore volume (preferably >80%).
• the polymer substrate solution is then cast onto glass plates. Immersion of the plates in water coagulates the polymer and leaches out the solvent forming the microporous substrate membrane in a water swollen state.
• Nafion® or other ion-conducting polymers
• the membrane can be dried first and then infiltrated with Nafion® solution using vacuum to remove air bubbles and fill the pores with Nafion®.
• the membrane may also be produced by an extrusion process as described herein.
• porous polymer substrate membranes containing an ion-conducting material can also be produced by casting the membranes from a common solution containing appropriate concentrations of the polymer substrate and ion-conducting material. Determination of %wt. ion conductor/%wt. substrate are based on the desired final thickness, % volume of ion-conducting polymer and the particular polymers employed. In some instances, this process may produce composite membranes in which the ion-conducting polymer domain sizes are smaller and more uniform than in composite membranes produced by imbibing pre-formed porous substrate membranes. In this process, pore size and content can be more easily controlled in the membrane by adjustment of individual component concentrations.
• the ion-conducting polymer solution can be prepared by dissolving the ion-conducting polymer in alcohol/water mixtures (e.g., Nafion 1100 EW solution, 5% from Dupont).
• Prefened cosolvents include, but are not limited to, the following: tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), N-Methyl-2-pynolidinone (NMP), sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and methanesulfonic acid (MSA).
• PPA and/or MSA are prefened solvents for a polymer substrate and ion-conducting material combination of PBO/PPSU.
• a polymer substrate is chemically sulfonated to produce a sulfonated composite in situ.
• This concept draws on a number of technologies.
• a variety of methods exist for the fabrication of porous polymer films most centered around dissolving a polymer within a water miscible solvent.
• a freshly cast film is then soaked in water causing the polymer to precipitate from solution.
• This phase separation of the solvent and the polymer causes the formation of the porous network as the solvent is leached into the water.
• One example would be the formation of the PBO polymer substrate, but this can be extended to a large number of polymers.
• One typical method for sulfonating polymers is direct exposure to concentrated sulfuric acid (esp. at elevated temperatures). Imbibing a sulfuric acid solution into the porous polymer network, followed by rapid heating to high temperatures (250-
• the product is a composite structure of unsulfonated polymer with sulfonated polymer on the surface.
• a method for producing a composite membrane of the present invention comprises the steps of preparing the substrate polymer and subsequently impregnating the substrate with appropriate monomers which are then polymerized in-situ to form the composite SPEM.
• the porous substrate polymer can be produced as described in the third prefened embodiment above.
• a preformed porous substrate with the desired properties can be purchased from industry (i.e., Osmonics, Gelman, Memtec, Pall Filtron).
• Memtec offers a highly asymmetric polysulfone membrane.
• the preformed substrate can then be imbibed with monomers required to synthesize ion-conducting polymers within the pores of the substrate.
• the substrate material must be chemically and thermally stable to the polymerization solvents and/or reaction conditions.
• an IPN membrane is created that has properties in accordance with the composite SPEMs of the present invention. Further, crosslinking may be used to control swelling in the SPEM as required.
• a solid polymer electrolyte composite membrane of the present invention can be made by preparing a mixture of a polymer substrate and an ion-conducting polymer and extruding or casting a composite film directly from this mixture.
• Examples of these methods include blending of sulfonated and unsulfonated versions of one polymer in the high temperature melt, followed by their phase separation on cooling.
• the typical solution of PBO in polyphosphoric acid would dissolve the ion-conducting polymer.
• Fibers of a suitable polymer substrate could be dispersed into a solution (or melt) of the ion-conducting polymer. Extrusion or casting of this mixture, followed by removal of the solvent would provide a typical fiber reinforced composite structure.
• Optimal inte ⁇ enetration of the polymer substrate by the ion-conducting polymer is estimated to be in the range of about 40 to about 90% volume. More preferably, inte ⁇ enetration is in the range of about 70 to about 80% volume. Percent values can be determined by comparing the thickness of a membrane infiltrated with ion-conducting polymer with a control membrane with no infiltration. For example, a doubling in thickness would indicate 50% inte ⁇ enetration.
• the following table shows comparative data for membrane properties for PBO/sulfonated PES (75%) and PBO/sulfonated PES (85%) and Nafion®.
• PPS0 2 polyphenylene sulfone
• Diphenyl PPO poly(2,6-diphenyl-l,4- phenylene oxide
• PBPS poly(benzophenone sulfide)
• the polymers described herein are commercially available from a variety of suppliers (unless otherwise indicated). Suppliers of these polymers include the following: RTP, Ticona, Alpha Precision, Polymer Corp., Amoco Polymers, Greene Tweed, LNP, Victrex USA, GE Plastics, Norton Performance, BASF, Mitsui Toatsu, Shell, Ashley, Albis, Phillips Chemical, Sumitomo Bake, Sundyong, Feno, Westlake, M.A. Hanna Eng.
• Boil deionized water in separate beakers on hotplate. 4. Place films into boiling water.
• Ion-conducting polymeric samples can be crosslinked in the acid (H+) form to improve ICP stability. Normally, crosslinking is performed in vacuum, to exclude oxygen from the system (which can cause ICP charring). The vacuum oven should be preheated to temperatures of at least about 200°C. The ICP sample is then heated in the vacuum oven for a prolonged period of time. The ICP sample should be tested before and after crosslinking for IEC and peroxide stability in order to evaluate long term membrane stability. See e.g., Example 16 below.
• Unoriented, microporous substrate films can be made by dissolving the polymer in a suitable water miscible solvent and casting onto a glass plate or other surface.
• dry PBO polymer can be dissolved in methanesulfonic acid (MSA).
• MSA methanesulfonic acid
• the films are slowly placed into a water bath, where solvent is rinsed from the films forming microporous, water-swollen membranes of PBO polymer.
• Extrusion In general, the extrusion of a polymer solution (in a water miscible solvent) followed by its coagulation and washing in a water bath allows the formation of microporous polymer films. The mechanical properties and porosity are controlled by the characteristics of the polymer solution and the details of the extrusion process.
• Microporous, biaxially-oriented films of liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) can be produced using a counter-rotating die (CRD) extrusion process. Solutions of the polymer are extruded using two annular and concentric mandrels that rotate in opposite directions. The rotation of the mandrels creates a transverse shear flow that is superimposed on the axial shear developed as the polymer solution is extruded through the die.
• the angle that the LCP fibrils make with the longitudinal axis of the tubular extrudate is ⁇ , where ⁇ can be varied from near- zero to about 65 degrees.
• the die rotation presets the biaxial ( ⁇ ) orientation of the emerging extrudate. Subsequent post-die blowout (radial expansion) and draw (extrusion direction stretching) are used to further adjust and enhance the biaxial orientation.
• the tubular extrudate leaving the die is expanded radially (blown) with pressurized nitrogen and stretched in the machine direction by pinch rolls to achieve the desired film thickness.
• the blown and drawn PBO bubble is immediately quenched in a water bath where the film structure is coagulated, or "locked-in-place", and the polyphosphoric acid is hydrolyzed into phosphoric acid.
• the PBO film is collected under water on a spool, which is later transfened to a fresh water storage tank where it is thoroughly rinsed and stored in the water- swollen state until needed.
• solvent exchanged for the initial solvent (100% water) in a number of stages.
• desired solvent e.g. NMP, alcohol, etc.
• NMP e.g. NMP, alcohol, etc.
• Microporous substrate films are stored in the exchanged solvent until they are used in composite SPEM formation.
• Aromatic PES polymers can be sulfonated to controlled degrees of substitution with sulfonating agents.
• the degree of substitution is controlled by the choice of and mole ratio of sulfonating agent to aromatic rings of the polymer, by the reaction temperature and by the time of the reaction. This procedure offers a method for carrying out sulfonation in a heterogeneous manner, i.e., sulfonation of precipitated polymer crystals.
• the polymer preferably a polyethersulfone
• the appropriate solvent preferably methylene chloride
• Sulfonation is carried out by simple admixture of the suspension with a sulfonating agent.
• Suitable agents include chorosulfonic acid and, preferably, sulfur trioxide (Allied chemicals stabilized Sulfan B® in CH 2 C1 2 ).
• the sulfonating agent used should be in sufficient proportion to introduce a number of sulfonate groups onto the polymer that is within the range of between 0.4: 1 to 5 : 1 per polymer repeat unit, although this is not critical.
• the temperature at which sulfonation takes place is critical to limiting the side reactions but varies with the type of polymer (a preferable temperature is within the range of from -50° to 80°C, preferably -10° to +25°C).
• a preferable temperature is within the range of from -50° to 80°C, preferably -10° to +25°C.
• the polymer products of the process of the invention may be neutralized with the addition of a base, such as sodium bicarbonate, when desired and converted to the alkali salts thereof.
• a base such as sodium bicarbonate
• the alkali salts of the polymer products of the invention may be used for the same purposes as the parent acid polymers.
• Concentrated sulfuric acid is used as the solvent in this procedure.
• the content of the sulfonating agent, sulfur trioxide is based on the total amount of pure (100% anhydrous) sulfuric acid present in the reaction mixture, and is kept to a value of less than 6% by weight throughout the entire sulfonation.
• the sulfur trioxide may be mixed in dissolved form (oleum, fuming sulfuric acid) with concentrated sulfuric acid. The concentration of the starting sulfuric acid and oleum were determined by measuring their density immediately before use in the reactions.
• the temperature of the reaction mixture is kept at less than +30°C throughout the reaction.
• the sulfonation procedure is stopped by pouring the reaction mixture into water.
• the polymer is first dried in high vacuum at room temperature to constant weight, then dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid. Oleum is then added drop-wise over a period of hours with constant cooling below +30°C, and with stirring. When all of the oleum has been added, the reaction mixture is stined for a further period of hours at the same temperature. The resultant viscous solution is then run into water and the precipitated polymer is filtered off. The polymer is then washed with water until the washings no longer are acidic, and it is then dried.
• Polymer is first dissolved in a solvent that is compatible with the sulfonating agent (e.g. methylene chloride) in a nitrogen atmosphere.
• the sulfonating agent is added to this solution over the course of several hours.
• the resulting solution or suspension (if the polymer precipitates as the reaction occurs) is allowed to react, again for several hours.
• the sulfonated polymer may be separated from the reaction mixture by conventional techniques such as by filtration, washing and drying. If the sulfonated polymer remains in solution, the solvent can be removed simply by evaporation or precipitation into a non-solvent.
• Microporous substrate films previously exchanged into the appropriate solvent are placed consecutively into solutions of the various ion-conducting polymers (ICP) with increasing concentration (in the same solvent as the unfilled microporous substrate).
• ICP ion-conducting polymers
• This technique is known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,501,831). Generally the use of smaller changes in ICP concentration seems to allow the formation of composite films with higher final ICP loadings.
• the microporous substrates and the imbibing solution are heated (up to 100°C). Once imbibed with the ICP, the composite film is placed between 6" diameter tension rings.
• the composite is carefully stretched to eliminate any veins or defects in the substrate.
• the setup is left to air dry (e.g. in the hood) overnight. This will usually remove much of the excess ion-conducting polymer's solvent by evaporation.
• the films are further dried by one of two methods.
• the composite films are heated under vacuum with pressure (about 100 psi) to prevent blistering of the films.
• porous, Teflon® coated shims are used to allow the solvent vapor to escape.
• Higher boiling composite films are simply heated under vacuum past the boiling point of the solvent.
• the overall uniformity of the final composite membrane can be improved by further pressing these composites at elevated temperature and pressure.
• films are immersed in distilled H 2 O and boiled for a period of 30 minutes.
• the films are then placed in a solution of 1.5N H 2 SO 4 at room temperature and soaked for a period of 30 minutes. This is repeated three separate times to ensure proper H+ ion exchange into the membrane.
• Films are rinsed free of acid (pH of rinse water > 5.0) and placed into separate beakers, each filled with a saturated solution of NaCl.
• the salt solution is boiled for a period of three hours.
• the films, which are now in the Na+ form are removed from the salt solution, rinsed with distilled water and padded to remove excess water. Now a wet weight and thickness of the sample are measured.
• the films While in the Na+ form, the films are dried in an air oven at a temperature of 60°C. The dry weight and thickness of the films are measured and the percent water content is calculated. The salt solutions are titrated with 0JN NaOH to a phenolphthalein endpoint and IEC dry (meq./g) values calculated.
• Transverse ionic conductivity measurements are performed on film samples in order to determine the specific resistance (ohm*cm 2 ).
• film samples Prior to the ionic conductivity measurements, film samples are exchanged into the H+ form using the standard procedure discussed above. To measure the ionic conductivity, the film samples are placed in a die consisting of platinum-plated niobium plates. The sample size tested is 25cm 2 .
• platinum black electrodes Prior to assembling in the measuring device, platinum black electrodes are placed on each side of the film sample to form a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA). To insure complete contact during the resistivity measurement, the MEA is compressed at 100 to 500 psi. The resistance of each film is determined with a 1000 Hz, low cunent (1 to 5 A) bridge, four point probe resistance measuring device and converted to conductivity by using formula 1. (1)
• C t/RxA
• A Sample area (cm2) Measurements are converted to specific resistance by calculating the ratio of thickness over conductivity (ohm*cm 2 ).
• Accelerated degradation testing is carried out using 3% H 2 O 2 solution with 4 ppm Fe++ added as an accelerator.
• the films are tested for a period of 8 hours at a temperature of 68°C.
• the percent degradation of IEC was measured in the film samples after the test. After 8 hours, the films are removed from solution, and re- exchanged using 1.5 N H 2 SO 4 .
• the IEC is recalculated, and the test result expressed as the % loss in IEC. This test simulates long term (several thousand hours) of actual fuel cell operation. For H 2/ O 2 , fuel cells, ⁇ 10% IEC degradation in this test would be considered acceptable.
• reaction mixtures were permitted to stir at ice bath temperatures for another 2.5 hours, then the reaction was stopped by adding approximately 10 ml of deionized water to each of the reaction mixtures.
• reaction mixtures (white dispersions) were recovered by filtration using a glass frit.
• Products (white powder) were washed 3X with 100 ml portions of dichloromethane. The washed products were then permitted to air dry in the hood. 20% solutions of the dried products were made in NMP and cast on soda lime glass plates. The freshly cast films were left to stand in a dry box with a relative humidity of less than 5% for a period of 24 hours. The cast films were heated at 70°C under full dynamic vacuum for an hour prior to floating the films off with deionized water. The floated films were then permitted to air dry overnight.
• the 100% and 150% sulfonated products swell greatly in water and become opaque, but when films are dry they shrink and become clear once again.
• the mechanical strength of these films allows creasing while resisting tearing.
• Films of the 100% and 150% products are not soluble in boiling water, and under these conditions also maintain their mechanical properties.
• Percent sulfonation in terms of stoichiometry refers to the use of a particular excess per each polymeric repeat unit, e.g., two moles in the case of 200% sulfonation.
• Example A the gelatinous polymer precipitate was rinsed several times with deionized water.
• One reaction (Sample A) was filtered and allowed to dry.
• the second reaction (Sample B) was added to approximately 4 liters of acetone.
• the acetone caused the collapse of the water swollen polymer which was then isolated by filtration. It also caused a significant portion to dissolve, which was isolated by drying of the acetone / water mixture (Sample B-l).
• Samples B and B-l contained approximately the same amount of polymer, but showed varying properties. In particular, the sulfonated polymer that was not extracted into acetone showed a slightly lower IEC, and a significantly lower water up-take.
• reaction mixture After stirring at room temperature for 28 hours the reaction mixture was heated in a water bath until a mild reflux was achieved, and it was kept refluxing under these conditions for an hour. After heating the reaction mixture for an hour the heat source was removed and the mixture was permitted to cool.
• Sulfonated polyimides are produced by the reaction of a sulfonated diamine with a dianhydride, using a 1.000 molar ratio of diamine / dianhydride, in a solvent under an inert atmosphere.
• An exact diamine / dianhydride molar ratio of 1.000 is required in order to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
• Polyimides are synthesized through an intermediate polyamic acid form which contains an amide linkage and carboxylic acid groups. This polyamic acid may or may not be isolated from the reaction solution.
• the polyamic acid is converted to the conesponding polyimide by a cyclization reaction involving the amide hydrogen and neighboring carboxylic acid groups, forming a five (or six) membered imide ring, with the evolution of water as a reaction byproduct.
• Polyimides can be made via two general procedures: 1) first synthesize, at or below ambient temperatures its solvent-soluble polyamic acid form, then chemically or thermally transform this polyamic acid to the polyimide; and 2) directly synthesize the solvent-soluble polyimide using reaction temperatures in excess of 100°C to distill water from the initial reaction solution. Each of these procedures was used at Foster-Miller to produce sulfonated-polyimides. The details of these reactions are presented below. Formation of the Sodium Salt of2,4-Diaminobezenesulfonic Acid (2,4-NaDBS).
• 2,4-Diaminobenzenesulfonic acid (2,4-DBS) (5.00 grams, 26.6 mmoles) was dispersed in 95.29 grams anhydrous methanol at ambient temperatures under a positive nitrogen atmosphere in a reaction flask equipped with a reflux condenser, magnetic spinbar for stirring purposes and pressure equalizing funnel.
• a cloudy dispersion of sodium hydroxide (1.06 grams, 26.6 mmoles) in methanol (93.4 grams) at a concentration of IJ wt. percent was placed in the pressure equalizing funnel and added dropwise to the stirring 2,4-DBS/methanol dispersion at ambient temperatures.
• the material exhibited a single reproducible endothermic absorption between 246° to 252°C, with a peak width at half height of 5J°C by differential scanning calorimetry. Its infrared spectrum (IR) showed absorptions typical for a -NH 2 amine (3426, 3380, and 3333 cm “1 ), a primary amine (3199cm “ '), aromatic C-Hs (1624 cm “ ') and S0 3 salt (1230 and 1029 cm “ ') groups. These S0 3 salt absorptions were located at values different than those observed for HOS0 2 in 2,4-DBS, which appeared at 1302 and 1134 cm “1 . The amine absorption at 3426 cm “1 in this material was also not present in 2,4-DBS.
• 2,4-DBS (7.75 mmoles) and m-PDA (7.75 mmoles) were easily dissolved in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at ambient temperatures under a nitrogen atmosphere.
• 6FDA (15.5 mmoles) was added all at once to the diamine solution and the mixture was stined at ambient temperatures under a nitrogen atmosphere.
• the reaction mixture became warm to the touch as the 6FDA began to dissolve and the resulting, solution was stined overnight at ambient temperatures.
• This clear reddish brown solution contained 15.0 wt. percent polymer and exhibited a viscosity similar to warm syrup, indicating polymers with reasonable molecular weights had been produced.
• the IR absorption for -OH of HOS0 2 at 2609 cm “1 was absent from the spectrum. This IR data is consistent with the formation of the 6FDA/m-PDA/2,4-NaDBS copolyamic acid.
• a sample of the reaction solution was cast into a large film with an initial thickness of 0.007 inch on a glass substrate using a motorized film casting table located inside a low humidity chamber ( ⁇ 10 percent relative humidity).
• the resulting clear copolyamic acid film was heated in a circulating air oven for 1 hour each at 100°, 200°, and 250°C to form a reddish brown copolyimide film.
• a final temperature of 250° rather than 300°C was used to hopefully reduce the thermal degradation of the resulting NaSO 3 groups, believed to occur at temperatures >200°C.
• the copolyimide film broke into many very small pieces upon removal from the glass substrate, a sign that the molecular weight of the copolyimide may be quite low.
• a brownish dispersion of 2,4-NaDBS (7.47 mmoles) and m-PDA (8.01 mmoles) in m-cresol (50 grams) and anhydrous toluene (20 grams) in a 3-necked flask equipped with a thermometer, mechanical stiner, and Dean Stark trap fitted with a condenser/nitrogen inlet was heated at about 150°C under a nitrogen atmosphere.
• 6FDA (15.49 mmoles) was added to the hot dispersion, whereupon water immediately began to distill out of the reaction dispersion and become collected in the trap.
• the temperature of the brownish dispersion was gradually increased to about 200°C, maintained at 200°C for 7.5 hours, and then decreased to ambient temperatures.
• the resulting dark brown colored, viscous reaction mixture was found to be a dispersion containing significant quantities of crystalline material(s).
• the presence of m-cresol in the film prevents determination of whether HOSO 2 groups are present due to overlapping abso ⁇ tions.
• IR abso ⁇ tions typical for polyamic acids at 1683 and 1548 cm "1 as well as the OH stretch of HOS0 2 were absent.
• IR data indicated some sodium sulfonate-copolyimide had been produced under the reaction conditions, but the presence of a crystalline dispersion rather than solution suggests a significant amount of the diamine was not inco ⁇ orated into a polymer.
• PEK polymer Victrex®
• 270g of concentrated sulfuric acid (93.5 wt.%) under nitrogen, stined by an overhead mechanical stiner.
• the polymer was dispersed over several days to form a dark red thick solution.
• Samples were removed after approx. 1 hour, 3 hours, and 16 hours, and quenched into deionized water to precipitate.
• the 1 and 3 hour products were washed several times with deionized water, soaked overnight in approximately 0.5M NaOH solution, then washed until a neutral pH was achieved. These were blotted dry and placed in the vacuum oven overnight at 50°C. Dried samples were dissolved in NMP to make a 20wt. % solution. This required heating overnight at 60°C. Films of approx. 6 mils were cast onto a freshly cleaned glass plate. After two days of drying the films were removed by immersion into deionized water.
• PPS/SO 2 provided by James McGrath of VPI [see Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Phenylene sulfide - sulfone). Polymer Preprints 38 (1), 1997, p.109-112].
• PPQ was prepared as described in the literature (See e.g., Macromolecular Syntheses, 1974, vol. 5 pJ7), by dissolving equimolar amounts of an aromatic bisbenzildiketone and a bis-o-diamine in a 1 :1 mixture of m-cresol and xylene. The resulting polymer was isolated by dilution with chloroform followed by precipitation into a large excess of methanol. The polymer was thoroughly washed with methanol and vacuum dried.
• a PPQ film can be soaked in a 50% solution of H 2 SO 4 for approx. 2 hour in order to fully sulfate it; then baked at a minimum temperature of 300°C to convert the ammonium sulfate salt to the covalently bonded sulfonic acid.
• This procedure has been used for the sulfonation of PBI and PPQ films. See e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,634,530 and Linkous, et al., J. Polym. Sci., Vol. 86: 1197- 1199 (1998).
• Ion-conducting membranes were fabricated from the polymer substrate film PBO and various sulfonated poly(phenyl sulfones).
• the substrate utilized was PBO film extruded and solvent exchanged into NMP as described above in the general procedure.
• the ion-conducting polymer (100, 150% sulfonated Radel R® - Na+ form) was synthesized according to Example 1 given above.
• Microporous PBO having been exchanged into NMP without collapse of the pores, was added to a 5 wt.% solution of the sulfonated Radel R® polymers in NMP. After twelve or more hours, the films were removed and placed in a
• the composite is preferably hot pressed.
• the hot pressing operation facilitates flow of the ion- conductor to make a homogenous composite structure.
• Non-porous Teflon® shims were placed on each side of the composite membrane followed by Titanium shims. The entire setup is then loaded into a press and subjected to the following cycle:
• SPEMs produced via this example were FMI 126-17P, FMI 126-17Q, FMI 126-17T, FMI 126-17U. See Table 8 for various results obtained from SPEMs made via this procedure.
• Ion-conducting membranes fabricated in this example followed closely those in Example 10.
• the substrate utilized was PBO film extruded and solvent exchanged into
• THF as described above in the general procedure.
• the ion-conducting polymer (75, 85, 100% sulfonated Udel®) was synthesized according to Example 5 given above.
• microporous PBO films exchanged into THF were placed into 30wt.% solutions of the polymer (in THF) at room temperature. After more than twelve hours, the films were stretched in tensioning rings and allowed to dry in a low humidity chamber. Final traces of the solvent were removed with the following vacuum pressing shown below.
• SPEMs were made with both 75 and 85% sulfonated Udel® ion-conducting polymers.
• SPEMs produced via this example were FMI 539-22-1, FMI 539-22-2, FMI 539-22-3. See Table 8 for various results obtained from SPEMs made via this procedure.
• Ion-conducting membranes fabricated in this example followed closely those in Example 10.
• the substrate utilized was PBO extruded film and solvent exchanged into a mixture of water and alcohols (see below) as described above in the general procedure.
• the ion-conducting polymer used was solubilized Nafion® 1100 EW purchased from Solution Technologies (10wt.% in a mixture of water and propanols).
• the solvent system used to exchange the PBO films was made to approximate that of the Nafion® solution.
• Composite membranes were made by placing the exchanged films directly into the 10wt.% Nafion® solutions. After twelve or more hours, these were removed and stretched into tensioning rings as described above. These films were dried in a low humidity chamber for at least 24 hours. Removal of the final traces of solvent were done by placing porous PTFE shims on each side of the composite membrane followed by the Titanium shims. This setup was then loaded into a vacuum press and subjected to the following cycle: Low Temperature Vacuum Pressing
• SPEMs produced via this example were FMI 126-16N, FMI 126-160. See Table 8 for various results obtained from these SPEMs.
• the low IECs obtained from these films and the conespondingly high resistances are a function of the low loading of ion-conductor in the composite structure. It is anticipated that using more concentrated solutions of the ion-conductor in imbibing the substrate will lead to composite SPEMs of low enough resistances for the applications described.
• the stability of the lateral dimensions of these Nafion® based composite membranes presents a significant improvement over unsupported Nafion® 117 films (which show in plane dimensional changes on hydration of about 20%). Given the exceptional strength of the PBO substrate, the mechanical properties of the composites are well in excess of cunent state of the art fuel cell membranes.
• Ion-conducting membranes fabricated in this example followed closely those in Example 10.
• the substrate utilized was PBO film extruded and solvent exchanged into NMP as described above in the general procedure.
• the ion- conducting polymer (75% sulfonated Ultrason purified - Na+ form) was synthesized according to Example 4 given above.
• Microporous PBO having been exchanged into NMP without collapse of the pores, was added to a solution of the sulfonated 75% sulfonated Ultrason polymer in NMP (8 or 12 wt.%). After twelve or more hours at room temperature the films were removed, stretched in tensioning rings, and dried of the solvent (see general procedure outlined above). Specifically, the sulfonated Radel R® / PBO films were dried in a low humidity chamber ( ⁇ 5% RH) for 1 to 2 days, vacuum dried in an oven heated from below 60°C to 140°C.
• the composite is preferably hot pressed.
• the hot pressing operation facilitates flow of the ion- conductor to make a homogenous composite structure.
• Non-porous Teflon® shims were placed on each side of the composite membrane followed by Titanium shims. The entire setup is then loaded into a press and subjected to the following cycle:
• SPEMs produced via this example were FMI 126-08E, FMI 126-08F. See Table 8 for various results obtained from SPEMs made via this procedure.
• Ion-conducting membranes can be fabricated as illustrated above in Example 13 with use of microporous PBO substrates obtained by the film casting techniques enumerated in the general procedures. These films were solvent exchanged from water into NMP, after the coagulation and rinsing. These microporous films were placed in ion conductor solutions (5-10wt.% in NMP) and allowed to equilibrate for a day or more. Once infused with the ion conductor solution, the films were placed in tensioning rings and dried of the solvent. In the case of the sulfonated Radel R®/cast PBO films, samples were first dried in a low humidity chamber for 1 or more days at room temperature and then vacuum dried at 200°C.
• a commercially available microporous membrane made of poly(ether sulfone) was obtained from Memtec (BTS-80), with a 0.02 micron pore size and an approximate porosity (void volume) of 80%.
• This microporous membrane was soaked in a Nafion® 1100 EW solution (water/alcohol solvent). A vacuum was drawn on the solution and film to degas and completely fill the pores. The film was then removed from the solution and vacuum dried (to approx. 100°C). This process was repeated two more times, each time the film was added to the solution, vacuum degassed, and dried of solvent. Finally, the ion-conducting component was placed in the sodium salt form by soaking in saturated sodium bicarbonate solution by repeated rinsing followed by vacuum drying. Properties of a SPEM produced using the above method are shown for FMI 126-79BB in Table 8.
• EXAMPLE 16 Crosslinking of Sulfonated PPSU
• Ion-conducting polymeric samples can be crosslinked in the acid (H+) form to improve ICP stability.
• crosslinking is performed in vacuum, to exclude oxygen from the system (can cause ICP charring).
• SPPSU was crosslinked in a vacuum oven preheated to temperatures of 200, 225 and 250°C for durations of up to 8 hours. Under these conditions, samples showed a slight IEC loss (-10%), and little improvement in long term stability (peroxide test). More severe conditions were employed by exposing samples to 250°C in full vacuum for more than 20 hours. Peroxide testing did not show any considerable difference between SPPSU crosslinked films and SPPSU controls until heated for at least 32 hours.
• the SPPSU films crosslinked at 250°C for 32 hours and 72 hours maintained their film integrity during the peroxide accelerated life test.
• the IEC of these test samples decreased significantly. Specifically, a loss of 63% (1.90 to 0.69 meq./g) for the 32 hour sample and a loss of 73% (1.90 meq./g to 0.51 meq./g) for the 72 hour crosslinked SPPSU films was calculated. It is anticipated that many of the SO 3 H acid groups form aromatic sulfone (Ar- SO 2 -Ar) crosslinks between polymer chains. This trend confirms that crosslinking (H+ form) of sulfonated polymers can be used to improve long term membrane stability.
• Ion conducting membranes were fabricated from PBO polymer substrate and sulfonated PPQ (see Example 9). The general procedure of fabrication was very similar to that shown in Example 10. Properties of a SPEM produced via this example are shown in Table 8 (FMI 167-28DL).

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