Membrane Polymer Synthesis

About

Our goal is to develop chemically stable and highly  cation- and anion-conductive polymers (ionomers) and membranes for the application in electrochemical energy conversion processes such as:

  • Low-Temperature fuel cells (H2-PEMFC, direct alcohol fuel cells such as direct-methanol-fuel cells DMFC or isopropanol/ acetone fuel cells DIFC)
  • High-Temperature fuel cells (HT-H2-PEMFC and HT-direct fuel-PEMFC)
  • Electrolysers such as LT-PEMWE and HT-PEMWE, Redox-flow batteries (RFB)  such as Vanadium-RFB and iron-chrome RFB
  • Alkaline fuel cells and alkaline electrolysis

Research Topics

The types of polymers under investigation include polymers with the following backbones:

  • perfluorinated, partially fluorinated and nonfluorinated hydrocarbons
  • nonfluorinated and partially fluorinated aromatics (polyethers, polysulfones, polyphenylenes, etc.)

From these polymers, different membrane types are made, including:

  • Ionically and/or covalently cross-linked (blend) membranes
  • Reinforced (blend) membranes with porous reinforcements such as electrospun fiber mats or stretched polymer foils
  • Hybrid membranes with inorganic nanoparticle fillings

Contact

Dr. rer. nat. Jochen Kerres

IET-2

Building HIERN-Cauerstr / Room 3008

+49 9131-12538121

E-Mail

team members

TEAM PHOTOGRAPHS

Research

Polymer Synthesis

Polymer development involves both the synthesis and modification of polymers to obtain ion-conducting polymers (ionomers).

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Membrane Development

By using ionic and/or covalent crosslinking of ionomers, the final membrane properties can be tailored to the subsequent application.

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Membrane Processing Methods

Various methods are applied in our team for membrane and membrane-electrode assembly processing.

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Polymer development involves both the synthesis and modification of polymers to obtain ion-conducting polymers (ionomers).

More

Last Modified: 14.07.2026