Title: Composite membranes, methods of making same, and applications of same

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a composite membrane includes: forming a first polymer solution from a first polymer and a second polymer solution from a second polymer, respectively, where the first polymer includes a charged polymer and the second polymer includes an uncharged polymer; electrospinning, separately and simultaneously, the first and second polymer solutions to form a dual fiber mat with first polymer fibers and second polymer fibers; and processing the dual fiber mat by softening and flowing one of the first or second polymer fibers to fill in the void space between the other of the first and second polymer fibers so as to form the composite membrane. In some embodiments, the composite membrane may be a proton exchange membrane (PEM) or an anion exchange membrane (AEM).

Inventors:

Pintauro, Peter N.; Park, Andrew; Ballengee, Jason

Issue Date:

2016-05-24

Research Org.:

Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1254129

Patent Number(s):

9350036

Application Number:

13/567,857

Assignee:

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (Nashville, TN)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

H01M2008/1095 - {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
H01M2250/20 - Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
H01M2300/0082 - Organic polymers
H01M2300/0091 - in the form of mixtures
H01M2300/0094 - in the form of layered products, e.g. coatings
H01M8/1023 - having only carbon, e.g. polyarylenes, polystyrenes or polybutadiene-styrenes
H01M8/1032 - having sulfur, e.g. sulfonated-polyethersulfones [S-PES]
H01M8/1039 - halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides
H01M8/1044 - Mixtures of polymers, of which at least one is ionically conductive
H01M8/1053 - consisting of layers of polymers with at least one layer being ionically conductive
H01M8/1067 - characterised by their physical properties, e.g. porosity, ionic conductivity or thickness
H01M8/1081 - starting from solutions, dispersions or slurries exclusively of polymers
H01M8/109 - {thermal other than drying, e.g. sintering}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

Y02P70/50 - Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02T - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

Y02T90/40 - Application of hydrogen technology to transportation

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DOE Contract Number:  

FG36-06GO16030

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2012 Aug 06

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE