Scientific principles of a new process for manufacturing perfluorinated polymer electrolytes for fuel cells

Authors:
S. S. Ivanchev, V. S. Likhomanov, O. N. Primachenko, S. Ya. Khaikin, V. G. Barabanov, V. V. Kornilov, A. S. Odinokov, Yu. V. Kulvelis, V. T. Lebedev, V. A. Trunov
The year of the publication:
2012
Journal:
Petroleum Chemistry N 7 vol. 52 453 - 461
Keywords:
copolymerization, tetrafluoroethylene, perfluorinated sulfonated monomer, latex, polymer electrolyte, proton conductivity, fuel cell
Abstract:

A new process for manufacturing a perfluorinated polymer electrolyte for proton-conducting membranes of fuel cells is presented. The process is based on the aqueous emulsion copolymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with perfluoro(3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octene)sulfonyl fluoride (FS-141) and characterized by a high productivity, reduced consumption of the expensive sulfonated monomer, and the possibility of controlling the equivalent weight (EW) of the resulting copolymer. The copolymers are characterized by a uniform composition in combination with optimal EW values and afford the synthesis of proton conducting membranes for fuel cells with properties comparable with those of commercial Nafion membranes. A mechanism of the copolymerization of TFE with FS-141 in an aqueous emulsion is proposed and confirmed by kinetic and topochemical data.

Scroll To Top