Objective Our objectives are the development of thermally stable (to 180 C) protonic conducting membranes (o>10 2 Scm 1 ) based on hybrid inorganic organic systems. These are formed by the association of protonic conducting polymers and protonic conducting inorganic materials. The latter are layered solids which can be broken down into nanoscale building blocks by intercalation and exfoliation. These composites can be divided into: conventional microscale composites, intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites, and the continuum between the three classes will be explored. Functionalities conferring protonic conductivity will be introduced both onto the thermostable polymer and the inorganic layers by chemical modification including techniques such as grafting and topotactic exchange. The partner laboratories are experienced in the manipulation of two dimensional inorganic materials, and in the conception and development of new methods for the modification of layered solids. Other of the partner laboratories have many years experience in the chemical modification of polymers, and an industrial participant will assure membrane scaling up aspects and, eventually, manufacture. The materials and membranes will be characterised by a full range of chemical, thermal, spectroscopic, electrical and textural techniques which are available in the partner laboratories. No proton exchange membrane is currently commercially available for use at such temperatures. Rapid application in electrochemical devices for energy conversion and in electrochemical reactors is therefore foreseen. The partnership includes a research institute and an industry who have complementary expertise in the areas of electrode design, and fuel cell development and manufacture. These two groups will optimise membrane electrode assemblies and test the membranes at 150 C in a prototype cell conceived during the project. Ultimate end users of the proton exchange membranes are the chemical, power generation and automobile industries. The areas convered by the proposal are materials engineering giving membranes with electrical properties for use in clean, environmentally friendly technologies. The partnership is formed of 2 industrial groups (1 SME), 2 research organisations and 3 university teams. It includes 4 EU countries. Both industrial groups have stated their interest in developing and exploiting a viable product resulting from the successful outcome of the programme of research. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cellsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringnanocompositesengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion Keywords Nanotechnology Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0201 - Materials engineering Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE Address Place eugène bataillon cc015 34095 Montpellier France See on map EU contribution No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all FUMA-TECH GESELLSCHAFT FUER FUNKTIONELLE MEMBRANEN UND ANLAGENTECHNOLOGIE MBH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Am grubenstollen 11 1327 St ingbert See on map Links Website Opens in new window Other funding No data ISRIM Scarl - Istituto Superiore di Ricerca e Formazione sui Materiali Speciali per le Tecnologie Avanzate Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Località pentima bassa 21 05100 Terni See on map Other funding No data NUVERA FUEL CELLS EUROPE SRL Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via bistolfi 35 20134 Milano See on map Other funding No data SORAPEC S.A. France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue carnot 192 94120 Fontenay-sous-bois See on map Other funding No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via elce di sotto 8 06123 Perugia See on map Other funding No data University of Strathclyde United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Cathedral street G1 1XL Glasgow See on map Other funding No data
