SULFONYL GRAFTED HETEROCYCLE MATERIALS FOR PROTON CONDUCTING ELECTROLYTES

• US 20080152985A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation), Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Zhou, Zhen, Li, Siwen, Li, Wen, Liu, Meilin, Zhang, Yuelan
• Granted Patent: US 7,964,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/33
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/30 containing atoms other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/10 only aromatic carbon atoms, e.g. polyphenylenes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/18 Polybenzimidazoles
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 77/28 sulfur-containing groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/2218 Synthetic macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1023 having only carbon, e.g. polyarylenes, polystyrenes or polybutadiene-styrenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/103 having nitrogen, e.g. sulfonated polybenzimidazoles [S-PBI], polybenzimidazoles with phosphoric acid, sulfonated polyamides [S-PA] or sulfonated polyphosphazenes [S-PPh]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1037 having silicon, e.g. sulfonated crosslinked polydimethylsiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A proton conducting polymer includes a polymer backbone and a heterocyclic compound attached to the polymer backbone. The heterocyclic compound includes a sulfonyl functionality bonded to heterocyclic compound.

Claims

1. A proton conducting polymer comprising:

a polymer backbone; and

a heterocyclic compound attached to the polymer backbone, the heterocyclic compound having a sulfonyl functionality bonded to the heterocyclic compound.

2. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 wherein the heterocyclic compound includes a linear organic compound attached thereto, the linear organic compound having from 1 to 20 carbons.

3. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 wherein the heterocyclic compound includes a linear organic compound attached to the sulfonyl functionality, the linear organic compound having from 1 to 20 carbons.

4. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 wherein the heterocyclic compound comprises 1,2,4-triazole, 1,2,3-triazole, 1H-benzotriazole, pyrimidine, pyrazine, purine, imidazole, pyrazole, pyridine, and derivatives thereof.

5. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 wherein the polymer backbone comprises polyalkene, polyepoxy, perfluoroalkene polymers, polysiloxane, poly-p-phenylene, polyphenylene oxide, poly-p-phenylene sulfone, polyetheretherketone, Udel polysulfone, and polybenzimidazole.

6. The proton conducting polymer of claim 5 wherein the polymer backbone includes an acid group attached thereon.

7. The proton conducting polymer of claim 6 wherein the acid groups comprise H₃PO₄, H₂SO₄, CF₃SO₂NHSO₂CF₃, CF₃SO₃H, CH₃SO₃H, and CF₃PO₃H₂.

8. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 wherein the polymer backbone includes sulfonated or phosphonated polymers or copolymers.

9. The proton conducting polymer of claim 8 wherein the sulfonated or phosphonated polymers or copolymers comprise polystyrene sulfonic acid, sulfonated polyetheretherketone, perfluorosulfonic acid, and sulfonated polyphenylene sulfide.

10. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 wherein the polymer backbone comprises a hybrid inorganic-organic polymer.

11. The proton conducting polymer of claim 10 wherein the hybrid inorganic-organic polymer comprises a compound having a silicon functionality.

12. The proton conducting polymer of claim 11 wherein the silicon functionality comprises silane, and siloxane functionalities.

13. The proton conducting polymer of claim 10 wherein the hybrid inorganic-organic polymer includes an acid group attached thereon.

14. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 having the formula:

15. The proton conducting polymer of claim 1 having the formula:

16. An electrolyte membrane comprising:

a polymer including a heterocyclic compound having a sulfonyl functionality bonded to the heterocyclic compound.

17. The electrolyte membrane of claim 16 wherein the polymer includes a polymer backbone and a heterocyclic compound attached to the polymer backbone, the heterocyclic compound having a sulfonyl functionality bonded to the heterocyclic compound.

18. The electrolyte membrane of claim 16 wherein the polymer has the formula:

19. The electrolyte membrane of claim 16 wherein the polymer has the formula:

20. A fuel cell comprising:

an anode;

a cathode separated from the anode;

a proton transfer membrane disposed between the anode and cathode, the proton transfer membrane formed of a polymer including a heterocyclic compound having a sulfonyl functionality bonded to the heterocyclic compound.