The new electrolyte membrane allows a substantial reduction in methanol crossover from the anode to cathode chamber of a DMFC.

It exhibits stable ionic conductivity levels higher than those of fluorocarbon membranes for faster startup of equipment using the DMFC. 

Kuraray used its enhanced processes for developing hydrocarbon resin to create a membrane that has about one-sixth the thickness and one-twenty-third the swelling rate of typical fluorocarbon-based membranes, while allowing a zero methanol elution rate. 

The company is working on a process for the mass-production of the membrane.