POLYMER MEMBRANE, METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME AND FUEL CELL EMPLOYING THE SAME

Abstract

A polymer membrane, a method of preparing the same, and a fuel cell employing the same are provided, where the polymer membrane includes a porous polymer film having sulfonated pores. The polymer membrane can be prepared easily and economically, has excellent ionic conductivity, and effectively reduces crossover in a fuel cell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of preparing a porous polymer membrane having sulfonated pores by sulfonating the pores of the porous polymer membrane according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating methods of preparing polymer membranes according to several embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is the infrared (IR) spectrum of porous polymer films prepared in Example 2 and Comparative Example 1; and

FIGS. 5A through 5C are scanning electron microscope photos of a porous polymer film before sulfuric acid solution treatment, a porous polymer film prepared in Example 2, and a porous polymer film prepared in Example 4, respectively.

Claims

1. A polymer membrane, comprising a porous polymer film having sulfonated pores.

2. The polymer membrane of claim 1, wherein the porous polymer film is a porous polyolefin film.

3. The polymer membrane of claim 2, wherein the porous polyolefin film is a porous polyethylene film, a porous polypropylene film, or a mixed film thereof.

4. The polymer membrane of claim 1, wherein the average diameter of the sulfonated pores is in the range of 10 nm to 10 μm, and the total volume of the sulfonated pores is in the range of 10 to 90% of the total volume of the porous polymer film.

5. The polymer membrane of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the polymer membrane is in the range of 0.5 to 2,000 μm.

6. The polymer membrane of claim 1, wherein the sulfonated pores comprise an alkane sulfonic acid group of Formula 1, a beta-sulfone group of Formula 2, an alkene sulfonic acid group of Formula 3 or 4, a gamma-sulfone group of Formula 5, or a delta-sulfone group of Formula 6:

7. The polymer membrane of claim 1, further comprising an ionic conductive material coated on one side or both sides of the porous polymer film.

8. The polymer membrane of claim 7, wherein the ionic conductive material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of sulfonated perfluorinated polymer, sulfonated polysulfone, sulfonated polystyrene, sulfonated polyetheretherketone, sulfonated polybenzimidazole, sulfonated polyimide, and sulfonated polyphosphazene.

9. A method of preparing a polymer membrane, the method comprising: preparing a porous polymer film;impregnating the porous polymer film with a solution for sulfonation; andcleaning and drying the resultant porous polymer film.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the porous polymer film is a porous polyolefin film.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the porous polyolefin film is a porous polyethylene film, a porous polypropylene film, or a mixed film thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the average diameter of the sulfonated pores is in the range of 10 nm to 10 μm, and the total volume of the sulfonated pores is in the range of 10 to 90% of the total volume of the porous polymer film.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the solution for sulfonation comprises sulfuric acid with a concentration of 90% or greater, fuming sulfuric acid, or chlorosulfonic acid.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the solution for sulfonation further comprises a supporting solvent selected from the group consisting of dichloromethane, dichloroethane, chloroform, and mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the amount of the solution for sulfonation is in the range of 10 to 500 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the supporting solvent.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising impregnating the resultant porous polymer film in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising, after the impregnating of the porous polymer film with the solution for sulfonation or the impregnating the resultant porous polymer film in the aqueous sulfuric acid solution, coating an ionic conductive material on the surface of the porous polymer film.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the concentration of the aqueous sulfuric acid solution is in the range of 30 to 50%.

19. A fuel cell, comprising: a cathode;an anode; andthe polymer membrane of claim 1 disposed between the cathode and the anode.