Patent ID: 6444343
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: C08J,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A fuel cell element which is intended for use in an electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane said membrane being in the form of an interpenetrating network composed of polystyrene sulfonic acid crosslinked within a poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix, prepared by impregnating a poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix with styrene monomer and a crosslinking monomer, copolymerizing the styrene monomer and the crosslinking monomer within the poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix to form a first membrane in the form of an interpenetrating network comprising a crosslinked polystyrene polymer within the poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix, and sulfonating the first membrane to form a final membrane in the form of an interpenetrating network comprising crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene polymer within the poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix.