A Novel Technology for Hydrogen Cars Found
A Novel Technology for Hydrogen Cars Found
  • Reporter Kim Eun-ji
  • 승인 2010.10.13 23:48
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A novel nanostructured membrane which can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell technology has been developed. This structure is revealed to have three times the proton conductivity and one tenth of the production cost, compared with Nafion, the only utilized membrane in this technology made in the U.S.

The development, done by POSTECH WCU Professor Park, Moon Jeong and her team in the Division of Advanced Materials Science, is recognized as they are flexible ionic liquid membranes that conduct protons in a water-free condition and are thermally stable in temperatures as high as 180℃.

Finding an electrolyte that displays high proton transport in an anhydrous and heated environment has been a challenge to overcome in order to commercialise hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles. Poly(styrenesulphonate-b-methylbutylene) (SnMBm) co-polymers synthesized by this team showed high conductivity at 165℃ in a water-free condition, which far exceeds the development goals set by the Department of Energy in the U.S (Durable at over 120°C and in 25% humidity).

The research was introduced in Nature Communications on Oct.5.