FUEL CELL INCORPORATING NOVEL ION-CONDUCTING MEMBRANE.

摘要

Fuel cells incorporating a novel ion-conducting membrane are disclosed. The membrane (1) comprises a plurality of acid-stable polymer molecules each having at least one ion-conducting component covalently bonded to at least one flexible connecting component. The membrane has ion-conducting components of the polymer molecules ordered such that a plurality of continuous ion-conducting channels (2) penetrate the membrane from a first face to a second face and such that the ion-conducting channels are situated in an elastic matrix (3) formed by the flexible connecting components. A preferred membrane is obtained by (a) sulfonating SEBS with sulfur trioxide under conditions that result in greater than 25 mol percent sulfonation and (b) heating the polymer.