You are here

Improved Methanol Permeability for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Office of the Secretary of Defense
Contract: DAAD19-03-C-0017
Agency Tracking Number: O022-0164
Amount: $99,999.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2002
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 618
Christiansburg, VA 24068
United States
DUNS: 008963758
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jeffrey Mecham
 Reserach Scientist
 (540) 953-1785
 jbmecham@nanosonic.com
Business Contact
 Richard Claus
Title: President
Phone: (540) 953-1785
Email: roclaus@nanosonic.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

"The purpose of the proposed OSD Phase I program is to develop and commercialize ion-conducting thermally stable polymers for use as high temperature proton exchange membrane/membrane electrode assemblies (PEM/MEA) materials with low methanol permeabilityas components of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Polymer electrolyte/proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems are an environmentally friendly power source for a wide range of applications that include transportation (cars and buses), stationary(home power generation), and consumer electronics (computers and phones). Sulfonated ion-conducting sites will be introduced via direct polymerization, allowing control of both their location and concentration. Preliminary work has indicated that the PIand colleagues are capable of synthesizing such materials exceeding the conductivity and methanol permeability performance of perfluorinated sulfonic acid Nafion materials at, or above, room temperature. These new sulfonated copolymers show no change incell resistance over a period of one month at a hydrogen/air delivery pressure of 30psig at 80¿C under fully humidified conditions. Additionally, cast films of the novel copolymers demonstrated a marked (nearly four-fold) decrease in methanol permeability(fuel cross-over), which could greatly limit flooding, and the decreased efficiency associated with this phenomenon. These new materials also are much less costly than fluoropolymers

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government