A method of preparing a radiation fuel cell membrane with enhanced chemical stability and a membrane electode assembly

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This patent describes a method for making a chemically stable, high-performance membrane for fuel cells. The process involves irradiating a base polymer film to create reactive sites, then grafting a copolymer made from alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) and methacrylonitrile (MAN) onto the film, and finishing by sulfonating the membrane to add ionic conductivity. The resulting membrane displays improved mechanical and chemical stability and is used in membrane electrode assemblies for polymer electrolyte (proton exchange) fuel cells.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Proton exchange membrane fuel cells for vehicles (such as cars, buses, or trucks)
• Stationary fuel cell power generation systems
• Portable fuel cell devices and backup power supplies
• Electrolyzers for water splitting and hydrogen generation
• Supercapacitors and other electrochemical energy storage devices
• Ozone generators or other specialized electrochemical equipment

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enhanced chemical and temperature stability, leading to longer membrane and fuel cell device lifetimes
• Comparable or superior ionic conductivity and fuel cell performance relative to commercial membranes like Nafion
• Lower material and production costs vs. expensive perfluorinated membranes
• Improved durability under actual fuel cell operating conditions (high temperature, oxidative environments)
• Better water management due to beneficial membrane properties
• Use of less hazardous co-monomers (MAN over AN) for safer production

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Patent Abstract

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a method for preparing a membrane to be assembled in a membrane electrode assembly and a membrane electrode assembly which both have significant mechanical stability and appropriate fuel cell characteristics. These objectives are achieved according to the present invention by a method for preparing a membrane to be assembled in a membrane electrode assembly, such as a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising the steps of: a) irradiating the base polymer film with electromagnetic and/or particle radiation in order to form reactive centers, i.e. radicals, within the said polymer film; b) exposing the irradiated film to a mixture of monomers amenable to radical polymerization comprising ±-methylstyrene and methacrylonitrile in order to achieve the formation of a graft copolymer in said irradiated film. c) Sulfonating the grafted film to introduce sulfonic acid sites providing ionic conductivity of the material.