Solid Polymer Fuel Cell Electrolyte Membrane Reinforcement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Solid polymer-type fuel cells face challenges with electrolyte membranes that have low mechanical strength and high electric resistance, particularly under low humidity conditions, leading to reduced proton conduction and durability issues.
Innovation Solution
An electrolyte membrane featuring a nonwoven fabric of bicomponent fibers with a sea-island structure, where the fibers are composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyvinylfluoride polymers, and filled with a perfluorocarbon polymer having sulfonic groups, enhancing both proton conduction and mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the concentration of sulfonic group is increased to reduce electric resistance, then proton mobility is improved, but mechanical strength is reduced and membrane creep increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure combining a perfluorocarbon polymer electrolyte membrane with a porous polymer nonwoven fabric reinforcement. The nonwoven fabric provides mechanical strength while the electrolyte membrane maintains proton conductivity, resolving the contradiction between improving proton mobility and maintaining mechanical strength.
2Reliability
If the concentration of sulfonic group is increased to reduce electric resistance, then proton mobility is improved, but membrane dimensional stability deteriorates due to excessive swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with nonwoven fabric reinforcement constrains the electrolyte membrane, preventing excessive swelling and dimensional changes while allowing the membrane to maintain high sulfonic group concentration for improved proton mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The nonwoven fabric is positioned specifically within the membrane structure to provide localized mechanical support and dimensional stability, allowing the electrolyte membrane to maintain its chemical properties for high proton conductivity without suffering from excessive swelling.
3Reliability
If membrane thickness is reduced to lower electric resistance, then proton conduction is improved, but mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure allows the use of thinner electrolyte membranes for improved proton conduction while the integrated nonwoven fabric reinforcement provides the necessary mechanical strength, eliminating the trade-off between membrane thickness and strength.
4Strength
If nonwoven fabric reinforcement is added to improve mechanical strength, then membrane strength is improved, but proton conduction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nonwoven fabric is designed with a porous structure that allows proton transport through the pores, maintaining proton conduction while providing mechanical reinforcement. The porosity ensures that the reinforcement does not block proton pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines the mechanical benefits of nonwoven fabric with the proton-conducting properties of the electrolyte membrane, achieving both improved strength and maintained proton conduction through proper material selection and structural design.
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 solution effectively maintains high proton conductivity and mechanical strength even under low humidity conditions, improving the durability and power generation characteristics of the fuel cell by effectively utilizing water and reducing dimensional changes.
Implementation Method 1
The electric resistance of a positive ion-exchange membrane is controlled by the mobility of protons in the positive ion-exchange membrane
Implementation Method 2
an electrolyte membrane including a reinforcing membrane of a nonwoven fabric composed of bicomponent fibers
Implementation Method 3
a first electrolyte material filling the voids of the reinforcing membrane
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte membrane that suppresses swelling and shrinkage caused by water retained in the electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell, improves the durability of the electrolyte membrane, and obtains excellent power generation characteristics with a low resistance. The electrolyte membrane for a solid polymer-type fuel cell includes, as a reinforcing membrane, a nonwoven fabric composed of an electrolyte material and PVDF bicomponent fibers 2a, thereby improving the durability of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, the bicomponent fiber 2a has pores 23 that can effectively retain generated water, thereby improving battery performance under the condition of a low humidity.