Fuel Cell Electrolyte Membrane With Dual-Viscosity Pore Impregnation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolyte membranes for fuel cells face challenges in achieving complete impregnation of pores with ionomer solutions, leading to discontinuous proton transport passages and reduced conductivity due to air bubbles trapped within the porous support.
Innovation Solution
The use of a porous support impregnated with two ionomer solutions of different viscosities, where a high-viscosity first ionomer solution is applied to one surface and a low-viscosity second ionomer solution to the opposite surface, forming distinct layers that occupy portions of the pores without mixing, thereby reducing bubble formation and enhancing proton conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ionomer is injected multiple times into the pores of the porous support, then the pores can be filled with ionomer to form proton transport passages, but air bubbles are introduced and trapped in the pores, creating discontinuities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the ionomer solution to resolve the contradiction. By using a low-viscosity ionomer solution, the solution can easily penetrate and fill the pores of the porous support without trapping air bubbles, achieving both complete impregnation and continuous proton transport passages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a porogen as an intermediary substance during the membrane formation process. The porogen creates the porous structure in a controlled manner, allowing ionomer solution to uniformly penetrate the pores without air bubble entrapment, thus ensuring both complete filling and transport continuity
2Ease of manufacture
If a single ionomer solution is used to impregnate the porous support, then the process is simple, but the ionomer cannot completely fill the pores, resulting in discontinuous proton transport passages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the ionomer solution to low viscosity, which enables the solution to completely fill the pores of the porous support in a single impregnation step. This maintains process simplicity while achieving continuous proton transport passages
3Ease of manufacture
If high-viscosity ionomer solution is used, then the ionomer layer formation is easier, but the solution cannot penetrate the pores completely, leaving air bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter to low viscosity, which resolves the contradiction by enabling complete pore penetration while still allowing easy ionomer layer formation on the membrane surface through controlled application
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
This approach effectively increases proton conductivity, reduces discontinuity in the ionomer layers, and enhances the durability of the electrolyte membrane by ensuring complete pore impregnation without bubbles, thus improving the overall performance of the fuel cell.
Implementation Method 1
a first ionomer layer including a first ionomer solution penetrating into the pores from a first surface of the porous support, and a second ionomer layer including a second ionomer solution penetrating into the pores from a second surface of the porous support
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an electrolyte membrane and a method of manufacturing the same. The electrolyte membrane, in which the continuity of a channel through which protons move is improved, may include ionomer solutions having different viscosities and a porous support having pores therein.