Study on proton-conductive membrane with high performance and stability at high temperature

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01650
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 26040:Structural materials and functional materials-related
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: Miyake Junpei 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 准教授 (30581409)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高分子合成 / 燃料電池 / 高分子電解質 / 膜 / プロトン伝導

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Aromatic ionomers have received tremendous attentions because of the high potential for a number of applications in clean energy devices involving ion-conducting membrane technology such as fuel cells and water electrolyzers. Since aromatic ionomers (as a membrane and/or a binder) experience harsh environments (e.g., highly oxidative, acidic, or basic conditions), it is becoming a general polymer design principle for such applications that the polymer main chains should be constructed solely of carbon-carbon bonds without any chemically-vulnerable linkages such as aromatic ethers. However, most membranes have suffered from low mechanical strength.
To improve the mechanical strength, in this study, a novel sulfonated polyphenylene containing octafluorobiphenylene group in the main chain was investigated. In particular, the effect of the octafluorobiphenylene group on the membrane properties such as water uptake, proton conductivity, mechanical strength was investigated.

Free Research Field

高分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

燃料電池や水電解水素製造装置において、イオン伝導性高分子は重要な部材の一つである。膜として利用する場合、高いイオン伝導性は当然のことながら、高い薄膜強度も求められる。特に、薄膜化が進めば進むほど、膜の機械強度への要求も厳しくなるが、本研究はそのような社会的要請に応え得る成果を含んでいるため、学術的意義のみならず、社会的意義も高いと言える。