Graphene-Based Proton Exchange Membrane for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

• Main Authors: SODANO HENRY ANGELO, MOGHADDAM SAEED, EHLERT GREGORY JOHN, PANERI ABHILASH, HEO YUNSEON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.02.2016
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) for use in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a laminate of graphene oxide (GO) or sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO) platelets. The mean size of the platelets is at least 10 μm in diameter and the platelets are combined as a laminate. By use of sufficiently large platelets, the stability of the PEM and the resistance to methanol permeation is improved dramatically with little penalty to the proton conductivity of the GO or SGO PEM. The methanol resistant PEM permits the use of higher methanol concentrations at the anode of a DMFC, for high cell performance.