Non-Fluorinated Electrolyte Polymer for High Proton Conductivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Non-fluorinated polymers produced by block copolymerization do not necessarily have sufficient proton conductivity, which is a critical issue for electrolyte applications in solid polymer fuel cells.

Innovation Solution

A polymer with a specific structure represented by formula (1), comprising constitutional units A1 and A2 linked by various groups (L1, L2, L3, L4), incorporating ion-exchange groups and arylene groups, which form a microphase-separated structure for enhanced proton conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluorinated polymers are used as electrolyte, then high proton conductivity is achieved, but cost and environmental load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproton conductivityVSAvoidenvironmental load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive and environmentally problematic fluorinated polymers with a cost-effective alternative polymer composition that achieves comparable proton conductivity performance, effectively substituting a cheap solution for an expensive one while maintaining functional requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte polymer by incorporating specific ratios of sulfonated polysulfone, polyether sulfone, and polyethylene glycol, optimizing the proton conductivity through compositional parameter adjustment rather than using fluorinated structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If non-fluorinated polymers are used as electrolyte, then cost and environmental load are reduced, but proton conductivity becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental loadVSAvoidproton conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite polymer electrolyte system combining sulfonated polysulfone, polyether sulfone, and polyethylene glycol in specific ratios, where the synergistic interaction between these different polymer components achieves high proton conductivity that none of the individual components could achieve alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces polyethylene glycol segments with high proton mobility into specific regions of the polymer structure, creating localized high-conductivity pathways that enhance overall proton conductivity without requiring fluorinated structures throughout the entire polymer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If block copolymerization is used to produce non-fluorinated polymers, then synthesis is simplified, but proton conductivity remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynthesis simplicityVSAvoidproton conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the compositional parameters of the polymer blend, specifically controlling the weight ratios of sulfonated polysulfone (30-70%), polyether sulfone (10-40%), and polyethylene glycol (5-20%), to achieve optimal proton conductivity through parameter optimization rather than complex copolymerization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The polymer exhibits high proton conductivity, particularly in high humidity environments, and also offers good gas barrier properties due to its arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic units, making it suitable for electrolyte membranes in fuel cells and water electrolysis devices.

Implementation Method 1

IExG denotes an ion-exchange group

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon Exchange: Ion Exchange

Data Source

PatentEP4667509A1Polymer, electrolyte material, electrolyte membrane, electrolyte membrane with catalyst layer, membrane electrode assembly, solid polymer fuel cell, and solid polymer water electrolysis device

Publication Date: 2025.12.24 TOSOH CORP

Figure 1

AI summary

A polymer having a structure represented by the following formula (1). [In the formula (1), A1 denotes a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (a1), A2 denotes a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (a2), L1 and L2 each independently denote a single bond or the like, n denotes an integer in a range of 10 to 100, and * represents a bonding site.] [In the formula (a1), IExG denotes an ion-exchange group, L3 denotes a single bond or the like, x denotes an integer in a range of 2 to 10, and * represents a bonding site.] [In the formula (a2), Ar denotes an arylene group having no ion-exchange group, L4 denotes a single bond or the like, y denotes an integer in a range of 3 to 20, and * represents a bonding site.]