WATER INSOLUBLE ADDITIVE FOR IMPROVING CONDUCTIVITY OF AN ION EXCHANGE MEMBRANE

摘要

A water insoluble additive for improving the performance of an ion- exchange membrane, such as in the context of the high temperature operation of electrochemical fuel cells. The insoluble additive comprises a metal oxide cross-linked matrix having proton conducting groups covalently attached to the matrix through linkers. In one embodiment, the metal is silicon and the cross-linked matrix is a siloxane cross- linked matrix containing silicon atoms cross-linked by multiple disiloxy bonds and having proton conducting groups covalently attached to the silicon atoms through alkanediyl linkers.