Solid gel membrane

• US 20030022047A1
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karen Tom, Lin-Feng Li, Muguo Chen, Tsepin Tsai, Wayne Yao, Yuen-Ming Chang
• Original Assignee: Karen Tom, Lin-Feng Li, Muguo Chen, Tsepin Tsai, Wayne Yao, Yuen-Ming Chang
• Inventors: Yao, Wayne, Chang, Yuen-Ming, Tsai, Tsepin, Chen, Muguo, Tom, Karen, Li, Lin-Feng
• Application Number:
  US10/186,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20030022047A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/29
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/16 Swelling agents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/30 Cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/34 Use of radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/26 Electrical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0006 by chemical reactions in-situ polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or reaction for manufacturing composite membranes B01D69/125
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/10 Supported membranes; Membrane supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1071 Woven, non-woven or net mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/141 Heterogeneous membranes, e.g. containing dispersed material; Mixed matrix membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1411 containing dispersed material in a continuous matrix
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/54 Amides , e.g. N,N-dimethylacrylamide or N-isopropylacrylamide
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 257/02 on to polymers of styrene or alkyl-substituted styrenes
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 283/00 Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to polymers provided for in subclass C08G
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1525 characterised by a particular ion transporting layer, e.g. electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/121 Charge-transfer complexes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/122 Ionic conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/22 Immobilising of electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5624 Externally mounted locking device

Abstract

A highly conductive polymer based solid gel membrane is disclosed. The membrane is especially well suited for use in such electrochemical devices as, for example, aluminum/air, zinc/air, Zn/MnO₂, Ni/Cd and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as in electrochromic devices such as smart windows and flat panel displays. In accordance with the principles of the invention, anion- and cation-conducting membranes are formed. The gel composition of the membrane contains the ionic species within its solution phase such that the species behaves as in a liquid electrolyte, while at the same time, the solid gel composition prevents the solution phase from diffusing into the device. Methods of forming polymer based solid gel membranes of the present invention are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A polymer based solid gel membrane for use in an electrochemical cell, said membrane having an ionic species contained within a solution phase of said polymer based gel.

2. A polymer based solid gel membrane according to claim 1 wherein the polymer based gel comprises the polymerization product of a polymerization initiator and:

(a) methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate);

(b) methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, and polysulfone (anionic);

(c) methylenebisacrylamide, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), acrylic acid, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidione and a reducing agent;

or

(d) methylenebisacrylamide, acrylic acid and a reducing agent.

3. A polymer based solid gel membrane according to claim 2 wherein the polymer based gel is formed on a matrix of a woven or non-woven fabric.

4. An electrochemical cell comprising first and second electrodes and one or more polymer based solid gel membranes according to claim 1 disposed there between.

5. An electrochemical cell according to claim 4 wherein the first electrode is a zinc anode and the second electrode is an air cathode.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 5 wherein a first protective polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed on the zinc anode and a second hydroxide conducting polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed between said first membrane and said cathode.

7. The electrochemical cell of claim 5 wherein a first protective polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed on said anode and a second protective polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed on said cathode, and said electrochemical cell further comprises an aqueous electrolyte disposed between said first and second membranes.

8. The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein the first electrode is an aluminum anode and the second electrode is an air cathode and a hydroxide conducting polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed there between.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein the first electrode is a hydrogen anode and the second electrode is an air cathode and a proton conductive polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed there between.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein the first electrode is a hydrogen anode and the second electrode is an air cathode and a hydroxide conductive polymer based solid gel membrane is disposed there between.

11. An electrochromic device wherein electrochromic materials are contained within a solution phase of a polymer based solid gel membrane.

12. An electrochromic device according to claim 11, comprising first and second electrode substrates and first and second polymer based solid gel membranes disposed there between, each of said membranes having an electrochromic material contained within a solution phase thereof.

13. The electrochromic device according to claim 12, further comprising an electrolyte active species disposed between said first and second polymer based solid gel membranes.

14. An electrochromic device according to claim 12 wherein said first and second electrode substrates are comprised of platinum, gold, or a conductive glass.

15. An electrochromic device according to claim 14 wherein the conductive glass is indium-tin oxide glass.

16. A method of inhibiting corrosion of a metal anode in a metal/air fuel cell system comprised of a metal anode and an air cathode, said method comprising disposing one or more polymer based solid gel membranes having an ionic species contained within a solution phase thereof, between said anode and said cathode.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said metal/air fuel cell system is one of an aluminum/air or a zinc/air fuel cell system.