Pore-Filling Membrane Structure for Durable Fuel Cell Electrolytes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polymers used as electrolyte membranes in fuel cells and electrolysis devices lack sufficient mechanical strength and chemical durability.

Innovation Solution

A pore-filling membrane composed of a porous base material and a polyarylene polymer, where the polyarylene polymer is filled into the pores of the porous base material, providing mechanical strength and chemical durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polymers with no ethereal oxygen atoms in the main chain backbone are used as electrolyte membranes, then chemical durability and ionic conductivity are improved, but mechanical strength becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical durabilityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a porous base material (providing mechanical strength) and a polyarylene polymer filling the pores (providing chemical durability and ionic conductivity). This composite approach allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously - the base material骨架 provides structural integrity while the polymer filling provides the necessary chemical stability and ion transport properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the membrane have different functions: the porous base material provides mechanical strength and structural framework, while the polyarylene polymer filling in the pores provides chemical durability and ionic conductivity. Each material is placed where it best serves its specific function, resolving the contradiction between mechanical strength and chemical durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If polyarylene polymer is filled into pores of porous base material, then mechanical strength and chemical durability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two materials (porous base material and polyarylene polymer) into a single integrated membrane structure. The polymer is filled into the pores of the base material, creating a unified composite membrane that provides both mechanical strength and chemical durability simultaneously, rather than requiring separate components or complex multi-layer structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The use of porous base material with controlled pore structures allows the polyarylene polymer to be filled in a straightforward manner. The porous structure provides natural pathways for polymer infiltration and ensures good interfacial contact between the two materials, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving the desired composite structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentUS20250361634A1PORE filling membrane, fuel cell, and electrolysis device

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 NIPPON KAYAKU CO LTD

AI summary

A pore-filling membrane having excellent chemical durability and mechanical strength, a fuel cell including the pore-filling membrane and having excellent durability, and an electrolysis device are provided. The pore-filling membrane has a porous base material and a polyarylene polymer, in which the polyarylene polymer is filled into pores of the porous base material.