• Membrane Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2004

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is considered as a candidate technology for applications in stationary, transportation as well as electronic power generation purposes. To develop a high performance direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC), a competent electrolyte membrane is needed. The electrolyte membrane should be durable and methanol crossover must be low. One of the approaches to increase the stability of generally used polymer electrolyte membranes such as Nafion against swelling or thermal degradation is to bond it with an inorganic material physically or chemically. In Noritake Company, we have developed a novel method of reinforcing the polymer electrolyte matrix with inorganic fibers. Methanol crossover values measured were significantly lower than the original polymer electrolyte membranes. These fiber reinforced electrolyte membranes (FREM) were used for DMFC study and stable power output values as high 160 mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ were measured. The details of the characteristics of the membranes as well as I-V data of fuel cell stacks are detailed in the paper.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.150-153
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• 2009

Anion exchange polymer electrolyte pore-filling membranes consisting of the whole hydrocarbon materials were prepared by photo polymerization with various quaternary ammonium cationic monomers and characterized on the properties for applying to solid alkali fuel cell (SAFC). Hydrocarbon porous substrates such as polyethylene were used for the preparation of the pore-filling membranes. The hydroxyl ion conductivity of the polymer electrolyte membranes prepared in this research was dependent on the composition ratio of an electrolyte monomer and crosslinking agents used for polymerization. Furthermore, these pore-filling membranes have commonly excellent properties such as smaller dimensional affects when swollen in solvents, higher mechanical strength, lower fuel crossover through the membranes, and easier preparation process than those of traditional cast membranes.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.29-32
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• 2003

Polymer electrolyte membranes are developed for the applications to facilitated transport membranes, fuel cells and solar cells. The polymer electrolyte membranes containing silver salt show the remarkably high separation performance for olefin/paraffin mixture in the solid state; the propylene permeance is 45 GPU and the ideal selectivity of propylene/propane is 15,000. For fuel cell membranes, the effects of the presence and size of the proton transport channels on the proton conductivity and methanol permeability were investigated. The cell performance for dye-sensitized solar cells employing polymer electrolytes are measured under light illumination. The overall energy conversion efficiency reaches 5.44 % at 10 ㎽/$\textrm{cm}^2$, to our knowledge the highest value ever reported in the polymer electrolytes.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Composite polymer electrolyte membranes based on porous supports have been recognized as an alternative for fuel cell applications since it can provide both mechanical as well as electrochemical stabilities. This mini-review highlights recent advances in supported composite polymer electrolyte membranes using porous matrix and nanofibrous supports. In addition, a comprehensive table listing a wide range of anion and proton exchange pore filling membranes was provided at the end of the review.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2004

Facilitated transport membranes for the separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures have long been of interest in separation membrane science because olefins, such as propylene and ethylene, which are important chemicals in petrochemical industries, are currently separated by energy-intensive cryogenic distillation processes. Recently, solid polymer electrolyte membranes containing silver ions have demonstrated remarkable performance in the separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures in the solid state and, thus, they can be considered as alternatives to cryogenic distillation. Here, we review recent progress, and critical issues affecting in the use of facilitated olefin transport membranes; in particular, we provide a general overview with reference to carrier properties, transport mechanisms, and separation performance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2012

Gel polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared from blends of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA), by solution-cast technique. The PAA content in the blend varied from 30 to 80 wt%. With the gel polymer electrolyte membranes, Zn air batteries were fabricated. The gel polymer electrolyte membranes were characterized by means of stress-strain test, impedance test. The Zn air batteries were tested by current interrupt method and galvanostatic discharge method. The tensile strength and tensile modulus decreased with increasing PAA content in the gel polymer electrolyte membrane. On the other hand, the ionic conductivity increased with increasing PAA content. The effect of ionic conductivity trend of the gel polymer electrolyte membrane in the Zn air battery was confirmed through current interrupt method and galvanostatic discharge method experiments. The battery with higher PAA content gel polymer electrolyte membrane showed lower IR drop and higher discharge capacity.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.643-651
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• 2019

Polybenzimidazole (PBI), an engineering polymer with well-known excellent thermal, chemical and mechanical stabilities has been recognized as an alternative to high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes (HT-PEMs). This review focuses on recent advances made on the development of PBI-based HT-PEMs for fuel cell applications. PBI-based membranes discussed were prepared by various strategies such as structural modification, cross-linking, blending and organic-inorganic composites. In addition, intriguing properties of the PBI-based membranes as well as their fuel cell performances were highligted.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.729-733
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• 2009

Solution casting films of sulfonated poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-r-butylene)-b-styrene] copolymer (sSEBS)-based composite membranes that contained different amounts of organic, nanorod-shaped polyrotaxane were annealed at various temperatures for 1 h. The films' properties were characterized with respect to their use as polymer electrolyte membranes in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Different aspect ratios of polyrotaxane were prepared using the inclusion-complex reaction between $\alpha$-cyclodextrin and poly(ethylene glycol). The presence of the organic polyrotaxane inside the membrane changed the morphology during the membrane preparation and reduced the transport of methanol. The conductivity and methanol permeability of the composite membranes decreased with increasing polyrotaxane content, while the annealing temperature increased. All of the sSEBS-based, polyrotaxane composite membranes annealed at $140^{\circ}C$ showed a higher selectivity parameter, suggesting their potential usage for DMFCs.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.281-283
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• 2005

Water management in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs) is one of the most challenging issues. Freeze start-up in the automotive applications is also important research topic in the PEMFC field. Transportation of proton and separation of reactant gases are main roles of polymer electrolyte membranes. It has been known that water in the membrane conducts as a vehicle for the proton transportation. At sub-zero temperature, the frozen water blocks the access of reactant gases to the active sites of electrode as well as occurs the physical destruction of fuel cell structures. In this study, property changes of electrolyte membranes in the freeze conditions $(at\;-25^{\circ}C)$ were investigated. For the various amount of water contained membranes, the property changes, especially for the proton conductivity, were observed after several times of freeze/thaw$(-25\~80^{\circ}C)$ cycle.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.459-464
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• 2007

Polymer electrolyte membranes, featuring ionic channels, were prepared from sulfonated dextran/ poly(vinyl alcohol) (sD/PVA) membranes. A stiff sulfated dextran was chosen as the route for ionic transport, since ionic sites are located along the stiff dextran main chain. The sD/PVA blend membranes were annealed and then chemically crosslinked. The characteristics of the crosslinked sD/PVA membranes were investigated to determine their suitability as proton exchange membranes. The proton conductivity was found to increase with increasing amounts of sD inside the membrane, which reached a maximum and then decreased when the sD content exceeded 30 wt%, while the methanol permeability increased with increasing sD content. The good dispersion of sD inside the membrane, which serves as an ionic channels mimic, played a significant role in proton transportation.