The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a reinforced membrane-seal assembly, the process comprising, forming one or more strips of an ion-conducting component in a plane on a temporary carrier component, forming a plurality of strips of seal component in the same plane on the temporary carrier component, such that the one or more strips of an ion-conducting component lie between two of said strips of seal component, wherein a planar reinforcing component comprising a plurality of pores is provided in the plane, such that the ion-conducting component and the seal component fill the plurality of pores, the one or more strips of an ion-conducting component, the plurality of strips of seal component and the planar reinforcing component thereby together form a reinforced membrane-seal assembly, and wherein each strip of ion-conducting component extends from a first end of said assembly to a second opposite end.

Provided is a lamination device that laminates an electrolyte film and a porous film. The lamination device includes a support portion configured to support a porous film roll, in which the porous film is wound, such that the porous film roll is able to revolve, an unwinding portion configured to support an electrolyte film roll, in which the electrolyte film is wound, and unwind the electrolyte film from the electrolyte film roll, a conveying portion configured to convey the unwound electrolyte film, and a control portion configured to control the support portion, the unwinding portion, and the conveying portion. The control portion is configured to control the support portion such that the conveyed electrolyte film and the porous film roll are brought closer to one another and an outer peripheral surface of the porous film roll is pressed against one of surfaces of the electrolyte film.

The present invention relates to an ion exchange membrane, a method for manufacturing the same, and an energy storage device including the same, and the ion exchange membrane includes a porous support including a plurality of pores and an ion conductor filling the pores of the porous support, in which the porous support includes micropores having a size of 31 to 1000 m. The ion exchange membrane may achieve high energy efficiency in the case of being applied to an energy storage device such as a vanadium redox inflow battery due to high charge/discharge cycle durability, high ion-conductivity, and excellent chemical and thermal stability.

A pore-filled ion exchange polyelectrolyte composite membrane from which the surface ion exchange polyelectrolyte has been removed and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The ion exchange polyelectrolyte composite membrane exhibits low film resistance and low in-plane-direction swelling degree, and has a smaller film-thickness than a commercial film, and thus, can be used for various purposes. In addition, since the pore-filled ion exchange polyelectrolyte composite membrane is continuously manufactured through a roll-to-roll process, the manufacturing process is simple, and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced.

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an integrated MEA, the method includes the following steps: (1) providing a substrate having an AA region and a WVT region; (2) simultaneously coating a microporous layer, a catalyst layer, and a first membrane ionomer layer onto the substrate; (3) applying an optional membrane support layer to the first membrane ionomer layer in the AA region and the WVT region; (4) applying an optional second membrane ionomer layer; (5) heating treating a coated substrate; and (6) assembling the coated substrate to a companion coated substrate.

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing an integrated MEA, the method includes the following steps: (1) providing a substrate having an AA region and a WVT region; (2) simultaneously coating a microporous layer, a catalyst layer, and a first membrane ionomer layer onto the substrate; (3) applying an optional membrane support layer to the first membrane ionomer layer in the AA region and the WVT region; (4) applying an optional second membrane ionomer layer; (5) heating treating a coated substrate; and (6) assembling the coated substrate to a companion coated substrate.

Disclosed are a reinforced composite membrane for fuel cells including a porous support comprising three-dimensionally irregularly and discontinuously arranged nanofibers of a polymer and a first ionic conductor, and a second ionic conductor filling pores of the porous support, wherein the first ionic conductor is present as nanofibers in the porous support or is present in the nanofibers of the polymer to form the nanofibers together with the polymer, and a membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells including the same. As a result, impregnation uniformity and impregnation rate of the ionic conductors are improved and proton (hydrogen ion) conductivity is thus enhanced.

Disclosed are a reinforced composite membrane for fuel cells including a porous support comprising three-dimensionally irregularly and discontinuously arranged nanofibers of a polymer and a first ionic conductor, and a second ionic conductor filling pores of the porous support, wherein the first ionic conductor is present as nanofibers in the porous support or is present in the nanofibers of the polymer to form the nanofibers together with the polymer, and a membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells including the same. As a result, impregnation uniformity and impregnation rate of the ionic conductors are improved and proton (hydrogen ion) conductivity is thus enhanced.

In an manufacturing apparatus, a belt-shaped electrolyte polymer is conveyed in a state disposed to a back sheet. A first reinforcement membrane is conveyed in a state disposed to a back sheet, and, in a first sticking section, stuck with the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer. In a first thermocompression bonding section, the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer and the first reinforcement membrane are thermally compressed. At this time, a molten electrolyte polymer reaches between the first reinforcement membrane and the back sheet thereof, and the first adhesiveness between the first reinforcement membrane and the back sheet thereof becomes higher than the second adhesiveness between the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer and the back sheet thereof. A first peel section peels, in this state, the back sheet from the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer.

In an manufacturing apparatus, a belt-shaped electrolyte polymer is conveyed in a state disposed to a back sheet. A first reinforcement membrane is conveyed in a state disposed to a back sheet, and, in a first sticking section, stuck with the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer. In a first thermocompression bonding section, the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer and the first reinforcement membrane are thermally compressed. At this time, a molten electrolyte polymer reaches between the first reinforcement membrane and the back sheet thereof, and the first adhesiveness between the first reinforcement membrane and the back sheet thereof becomes higher than the second adhesiveness between the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer and the back sheet thereof. A first peel section peels, in this state, the back sheet from the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer.