Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) chemists Yeong Suk Choi and Hae Kyung Kim have created a nanocomposite for use in polymer fuel cell membranes. The nanocomposite material is sulfonated polysulfone with a nanoscale amount of nonmodified montmorillonite clay dispersed in the polysulfone.
The nanocomposite has excellent ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. The nanocomposite electrolyte membrane formed using this nanocomposite has an improved ability to suppress permeation of polar organic fuels, such as methanol, while maintaining appropriate ionic conductivity. In addition, the fuel cell with the nanocomposite electrolyte membrane can effectively prevent crossover of methanol used as a fuel, thereby providing improved working efficiency and an extended lifespan.
The nonmodified clay has a layered structure, and the nonmodified clay is intercalated with the sulfonated polysulfone to form a nanocomposite electrolyte membrane which can be used in a more robust methanol fuel cell. Samsung SDI earned U.S. Patent 7,652,089 for the improved methanol fuel cell membrane and fuel cell, which details how the membrane is made.
