Abstract: Electrochemical cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. An electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode or the outer face of the anode. The porous pad comprises a particulate or mat of one or more doped- or reduced-valve metal oxides, which are bound together with one or more thermoplastic resins.

Abstract: A membrane/electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of exhibiting high power generation performance constantly for a long period of time in a high temperature and low humidity environment, and a polymer electrolyte membrane whereby such a membrane/electrode assembly is obtainable. A polymer electrode membrane 15, comprising a proton conductive polymer which has an electrical conductivity of at least 0.07 S/cm at a temperature of 80° C. at a relative humidity of 40% and which has a water content of less than 15 mass; and a membrane/electrode assembly 10 comprising an anode 13 and a cathode 14 each having a catalyst layer 11, and a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 disposed between the anode 13 and the cathode 14.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for in-situ preparation of a polybenzimidazole-based electrolyte membrane, including: polymerizing a polybenzimidazole polymer in a solution; casting a solution containing the polymerized polymer onto a substrate and drying the solution in air to form a membrane; washing the dried membrane with water or alcohol; and allowing water or alcohol to evaporate from the membrane containing water or alcohol, while maintaining the shape of the membrane. The method for in-situ preparation of a polybenzimidazole-based electrolyte membrane allows easy preparation of a polybenzimidazole-based electrolyte membrane having a desired area without any complicated processes, and thus contributes to simplification of an overall process for fabricating a fuel cell.

Abstract: Provided are an ion-conductive composite electrolyte that improves ionic conductivity, a membrane-electrode assembly and an electrochemical device using the same, and a method for producing an ion-conductive composite electrolyte membrane. A proton-conductive composite electrolyte contains an electrolyte having a proton-dissociative group (—SO3H) and a compound having a Lewis acid group MXn-1, wherein the Lewis acid group and the proton-dissociative group interact with each other. The compound having the Lewis acid group is a Lewis acid compound MXn or a polymer having a Lewis acid group MXn-1. The electrolyte having a proton-dissociative group is, for example, a fullerene derivative. A proton-conductive composite electrolyte membrane is formed using a solvent having a donor number of 25 or less, and a membrane-electrode assembly using the same is suitable for use in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A functional membrane is provided, which has high functionality combined with the gas barrier performance and mechanical strength inherent in a polymer film substrate. In particular, a polymer electrolyte membrane is provided, which is excellent in terms of high proton conductivity and gas barrier performance and is most appropriate to serve as a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cells. A method for producing a functional membrane is provided, which comprises: a step of ion irradiation, in which active species are generated in a polymer film substrate containing nonconductive inorganic particles by irradiating the polymer film substrate with high-energy heavy ions to the extent of 104/cm2 to 1014/cm2; and a step of graft polymerization subsequent to the step of ion irradiation, in which one or more monomers selected from group A consisting of monomers containing useful functional groups are added such that the monomers are graft polymerized with the polymer film substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified inorganic material with excellent cation exchange capacity. In addition, the invention relates to a method of preparing the modified inorganic material, a composite electrolyte membrane comprising the modified inorganic material powder that has excellent methanol-repelling ability, and a fuel cell comprising the composite electrolyte membrane. The modified inorganic material includes an inorganic material, and a cation exchanger bonded to the inorganic material.

Abstract: To provide a solid polymer electrolyte composition that can improve oxidation resistance without causing decrease in proton conductivity, elution of added components and the like, and an ion-exchange membrane, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell, each using the composition. It is possible to obtain a solid polymer electrolyte composition having excellent oxidation resistance without causing decrease in proton conductivity, elution of added components and the like, by mixing an aromatic hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte, a phosphorus-containing polymer compound and a metallic element.

Abstract: A fuel cell-purpose electrolyte material having a structural unit represented by a general formula (1): where n is 0 or a positive integer, and R1 represents H or CH3, and R2 represents (CH2)mSO3H (m is 0 or a positive integer).

Abstract: N-heterocyclic functionalized polymers and methods of use in fuel cells. Phenoxy-substituted polyphosphazenes and phosphazene trimers functionalized with azoles can provide polymer electrolyte membranes with high thermal stability coupled with a large number of proton binding sites per monomer unit.

Abstract: A polyurea electrolyte includes a polyurea resin formed by a polymerization of a first compound having two or more isocyanate groups and a second compound having two or more amino groups. The first compound or the second compound contains ten or more carbon chains, and the first compound or the second compound contains a sulfonic acid group or a carboxylic acid group. A method for manufacturing the polyurea electrolyte includes neutralizing the sulfonic acid group or the carboxylic acid group in the first compound or the second compound by a neutralizing agent; after the neutralizing, polymerizing the first compound and the second compound; and after the polymerizing, removing the neutralizing agent from a polymer of the first compound and the second compound.

Abstract: A proton-conducting electrolyte membrane containing a porous inorganic substrate, a porous portion of the porous inorganic substrate being filled with a proton-conducting polymer, wherein the proton-conducting polymer is a co-polymer of: (i) a monomer compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a sulphonic acid group in the molecule; and (ii) a silyl compound represented by Formula (1): (R1O)n—Si—R2m??Formula (1) wherein R1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 is an organic group capable of co-polymerizing; m and n each are an integer of 1 to 3, with the proviso that m plus n equals 4; and R2 may be the same or different when m is 2 or 3.

Abstract: There is used a polymer electrolyte membrane containing a polymer segment (A) having an ion-conducting component, and a polymer segment (B) having a composition ratio of the ion-conducting component lower than that in the polymer segment (A), wherein the polymer segment (A) and the polymer segment (B) form a micro phase-separated structure, and inorganic particles 8 (a metal oxide, the metal oxide supporting a sulfuric acid ion, a metal hydroxide, the metal hydroxide supporting a sulfuric acid ion, a metal salt of phosphoric acid, and a metal fluoride or carbon) are present in a hydrophilic domain 9 composed of the polymer segment (A), in higher concentration than that in a hydrophobic domain 10 composed of the polymer segment (B).

Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-layered electrode for fuel cell and a method for producing the same, wherein the electrode can be operated under non-humidification and normal temperature, the flooding of the electrode catalyst layer can be prevented, and the long-term operation characteristic can be increased due to the prevention of the loss of the electrode catalyst layer.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell including a support and a catalyst layer formed on the support, wherein the catalyst layer comprises a supported catalyst and a polyurethane-based compound, wherein all or some of the polyurethane-based compound is synthesized from a polyol monomer where some or all of the polyol monomer is a polyol monomer that contains a phosphonyl group; a method of preparing the same; and a fuel cell including the same. The electrode for a fuel cell has excellent ion conductivity because it maintains stability at high temperature operation, and is capable of retaining phosphoric acid effectively even at high temperatures. A fuel cell can be prepared by using the electrode where the fuel cell can operate under these conditions of high temperature above 100° C. and no humidity and shows improved performance for generating electricity.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell which comprises a cathode and an anode arranged to sandwich a proton-conductive ion exchange electrolytic membrane, oxygen and hydrogen containing carbon monoxide being supplied to the cathode and the anode, respectively, in which the cathode comprises an electroconductive porous substrate which carries thereon platinum or a platinum alloy and a proton-conductive ion exchange electrolytic polymer, and the anode comprises an electroconductive porous substrate which carries thereon platinum or a platinum alloy and a proton-conductive ion exchange electrolytic polymer, and further at least the anode carries a proton-supplying material thereon.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a porous frit based composite proton exchange membrane. The pores of the porous frit are filled with a proton-conducting material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane including a graft polymer having a sulfonic acid group as a proton conductive group, in which, when the electrolyte membrane is divided into four equal parts in a thickness direction thereof, a content of the sulfonic acid group in each of outer regions is larger than a content of the sulfonic acid group in each of inner regions; in which A1, A2, B1 and B2 satisfy the following formula: 1.5?(A1+A2)/(B1+B2)?8, in which A1 and A2 each represent a maximum value of a distribution amount of the sulfonic acid group in each of the two outer regions, and B1 and B2 each represent an average value of a maximum value and a minimum value of a distribution amount of the sulfonic acid group in each of the two inner regions; and in which the electrolyte membrane has an ion-exchange capacity of 0.5 to 2 meq/g.

Abstract: A composite electrolyte membrane of the present invention includes a porous body composed of an inorganic substance and an electrolyte material. The porous body includes therein plural spherical pores in which a diameter is substantially equal, and communicating ports each allowing the spherical pores adjacent to each other to communicate with each other. The electrolyte material is provided on the spherical pores and the communicating ports, has proton conductivity, and is composed of a hydrocarbon polymer. The proton-conductive composite electrolyte membrane has excellent ion conductivity, high heat resistance, and restricted swelling when being hydrous, and is capable of being produced at low cost.

Abstract: A crosslinked nano-inorganic particle/polymer electrolyte membrane composed of a polymer film substrate, graft molecular chains bound to the backbone skeleton of the polymer film substrate and comprising a vinyl monomer graft-polymerized, sulfonic groups bound to the graft molecular chains, and an inorganic material as nano-scale particles uniformly dispersed within a crosslinked structure ascribed to the backbone skeleton of the polymer film substrate and the graft molecular chains, wherein the backbone skeleton of the polymer film substrate, the graft molecular chains, and the nano-inorganic particles mutually construct a crosslinked structure.

Abstract: A polyarylene copolymer having a sulfonic acid group which has high proton conductivity and reduced swelling in hot water and reduced shrinkage in drying; a solid polymer electrolyte and a proton conductive membrane comprising the copolymer; and a membrane-electrode assembly using these. The polyarylene block copolymer comprises a polymer segment (A) having a sulfonic acid group, and a polymer segment (B) having substantially no sulfonic acid group, the polymer segment (B) having substantially no sulfonic acid group comprising a structural unit represented by the following formula (1).

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer has a low electrical resistance, high heat resistance and is strong against repeats of swelling and shrinkage. Thus, a membrane/electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells having high power generation performance and excellent in durability can be provided. For a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 or for a catalyst layer 11 constituting electrodes 13 and 14, a polymer comprising units (U1) and units (U2) is used: Q1, Q2: a perfluoroalkylene group which may have —O— or the like; Rf1, Rf2: a perfluoroalkyl group which may have —O—; X: an oxygen atom or the like; a: 0 or the like; Y, Z: a fluorine atom, or a monovalent perfluoroorganic group such as —CF3; S: 0 to 1; and t: 0 to 3.

Abstract: A solid acid having a core of calixarene or calix resorcinarene. The solid acid is an ion conducting compound in which at least one of the hydroxyl groups is substituted by an organic group having a cation exchange group at a terminal end, a polymer electrolyte membrane including the same, and a fuel cell using the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane can provide low methanol crossover and high ionic conductivity. Accordingly, a fuel cell having high efficiency can be obtained by using the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: An electrode electrolyte for a solid polymer electrolyte-type fuel cell contains a polymer, which has a polyphenylene structure as a main chain and both a sulfonic acid group and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group as a side chain. A side chain having the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group has a structure represented by the following general formula (D). where Z represents at least one kind of structures selected from a group consisting of a direct bond, —O— and —S—, Y represents at least one member selected from a group consisting of —CO—, —SO2—, —SO—, —CONH—, —COO—, —(CF2)1— (1 is an integer of 1 to 10) and —C(CF3)2, R20 represents a specified nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, q represents an integer of 1 to 5 and p represents an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: There is provided an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent power generation performance and excellent durability and a method for manufacturing the same. Also provided is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the electrode structure and an electrical apparatus and a transport apparatus using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 containing carbon particles supporting catalyst particles. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is made of a sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer has an ion exchange capacity in the range of 1.7 to 2.3 meq/g, and the polymer contains a component insoluble in N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount of 70% or less relative to the total amount of the polymer, after the polymer is subjected to heat treatment for exposing it under a constant temperature atmosphere of 12° C. for 200 hours.

Abstract: The present invention readily provides an electrolyte which is capable of suppressing elution of a radical-quenching material from the electrolyte and has high proton conductivity and excellent durability. The polyelectrolyte is obtainable by chemically bonding a proton-conducting polymer having protonic acid groups to a radical-quenching material having a radical-scavenging capability via moieties other than the protonic acid groups by heating at a temperature of 60° C. or more and 250° C. or less. The proton-conducting polymer is an aromatic polymer, polyether ketone or a polyether ether ketone, or phenol resin, has a sulfonic acid group, and has a hydrogen ion exchange capacity of 0.5 meq/g or more and 10 meq/g or less. The radical-quenching material has at least one methylol group in the molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous polyimide film, comprising reacting an aromatic dianhydride with one or more aromatic diamines in a suitable solvent to form poly(amic acid), adding a dehydrated agent of an acid anhydride and an organic base to the reaction mixture to convert the poly(amic acid) to a polyimide precursor, casting the reaction mixture comprising the polyimide precursor onto a solid support to form a film, coagulating the polyimide precursor in a coagulating bath comprising a mixture of a solvent and a non-solvent to develop a porous structure, and drying the coagulated polyimide precursor in air to form the porous polyimide film. A composite membrane comprising same and its use are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream, separating at least a portion of hydrogen contained in the fuel exhaust stream using a high temperature, low hydration ion exchange membrane cell stack, and providing the hydrogen separated from the fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.

Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte material for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, which is an electrolyte material having a high ion exchange capacity and a low resistance, and which has a higher softening temperature than a conventional electrolyte material.

Abstract: A chemical fullerene derivative is for a proton conducting membrane electrolyte, in which sulfonic acid group SO3M and/or phosphonic acid group PO(OM)2 is directly bonded, but an organic compound is substantially not bonded. A production method is for the chemical fullerene derivative, which uses dimethylacetamide plus water in the case of sulfonation reagent K2SO3 and dioxane in the case of phosphonation reagent LiPO(OEt)2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a poly(arylene ether) copolymer having an ion exchange group, particularly a positive ion exchange group, a method for manufacturing the same, and use thereof. In the poly(arylene ether) copolymer having the ion exchange group according to the present invention, physical characteristics, ion exchanging ability, metal ion adsorption ability and a processability are excellent, and thus the copolymer can be molded in various shapes and can be extensively applied to various fields such as recovering of organic metal, air purification, catalysts, water treatment, medical fields and separating of proteins.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a proton transporting membrane is provided. The proton transporting membrane comprises a polyelectrolyte film comprising a multilayer comprising an interpenetrating network of a net positively charged polyelectrolyte polymer comprising repeat units with at least two fluorine atoms and a net negatively charged polyelectrolyte polymer comprising repeat units with at least two fluorine atoms, and further comprising a fluorinated counterion within the multilayer.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane, a method of manufacturing the same, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane are provided, wherein the polymer electrolyte forms an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of a polymer by simple blending of a hydrophobic polyimide having a reactive terminal group and a hydrophilic aromatic polymer having ion conductivity. The polymer electrolyte membrane has reduced swelling properties due to highly dense crosslinking of polyimide through the reactive terminal group, shows high ion conductivity at low humidity, and has methanol crossover suppressing ability. Accordingly, a fuel cell with improved electric and mechanical properties can be provided.

Abstract: Provided are a dendrimer solid acid and a polymer electrolyte membrane using the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a macromolecule of a dendrimer solid acid having ionically conductive terminal groups at the surface thereof and a minimum amount of ionically conductive terminal groups required for ionic conduction, thus suppressing swelling and allowing a uniform distribution of the dendrimer solid acid, thereby improving ionic conductivity. Since the number of ionically conductive terminal groups in the polymer electrolyte membrane is minimized and the polymer matrix in which swelling is suppressed is used, methanol crossover and difficulties of outflow due to a large volume may be reduced, and a macromolecule of the dendrimer solid acid having the ionically conductive terminal groups on the surface thereof is uniformly distributed. Accordingly, ionic conductivity is high and thus, the polymer electrolyte membrane shows good ionic conductivity even in non-humidified conditions.

Abstract: Proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane based on a polyazole salt of an inorganic or organic acid which is doped with an acid as electrolyte, wherein the polyazole salt of the organic or inorganic acid has a lower solubility in the acid used as electrolyte than the polyazole salt of the acid used as electrolyte, a process for producing the inventive proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane-electrode assembly comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes which are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane is a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane according to the invention, and a fuel cell comprising at least one membrane-electrode assembly according to the invention.

Abstract: Triblock copolymers useful for forming ion conductive membranes are provided. The triblock copolymers are characterized by having either a hydrophobic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic or a hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic polymer sequence that induces a microphase separated morphology. Variations in which the hydrophilic polymer sequence component includes either acid groups or salts of acid groups are also disclosed. Methods for forming an ion conductive membrane from the triblock copolymers are provided.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane which comprises a cation exchange membrane made of a polymer having cation exchange groups and contains cerium ions is used as an electrolyte membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. In a case where the cation exchange membrane has sulfonic acid groups, the sulfonic acid groups are ion-exchanged, for example, with cerium ions so that cerium ions are contained preferably in an amount of from 0.3 to 20% of —SO3? groups contained in the cation exchange membrane. A membrane for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of power generation in high energy efficiency, having high power generation performance regardless of the dew point of the feed gas and capable of stable power generation over a long period of time, can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode paste which comprises catalyst particles, a solvent and an varnish which comprises a solvent and an electrode electrolyte for a solid polymer fuel cell electrolyte, wherein the electrode electrolyte comprises a polymer with a structure having a main chain including a polyphenylene, a side chain including a sulfonic acid group and a repeating structural unit represented by formula (C) as a side chain including a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group; wherein the structural variables are defined herein.

Abstract: The membrane electrode assembly 1 has an anode 10, a cathode 20, and an electrolyte membrane 30 disposed between the anode and cathode; the anode and cathode are gas diffusion electrodes; the electrolyte membrane contains a solid electrolyte in which a plurality of pores with mean pore diameters of 1 to 30 nm are formed; and the solid electrolyte has a backbone comprising organic groups having one or more metal atoms, oxygen atoms bonded to the metal atoms, and carbon atoms bonded to the metal atoms or oxygen atoms, and also has functional groups with ion-exchange capabilities that are bonded to the organic groups in the pores.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane assembly for use in a fuel cell or other electrochemical device includes an ion exchange membrane, a base electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of a basic electrolyte solution in contact with at least some of the first face of the membrane, and an acid electrolyte reservoir configured and operable to maintain a volume of an acidic electrolyte in contact with at least a portion of the second face of the membrane. The membrane may be a cation exchange membrane or an anion exchange membrane. Also disclosed are fuel cells which incorporate the electrolyte membrane assembly.

Abstract: Provided are a proton-conductive composite electrolyte, a membrane-electrode assembly, and a fuel cell in which an improvement of the proton conductivity, and suppression of crossover and insolubilization are satisfied at the same time. The proton-conductive composite electrolyte includes an electrolyte having a proton-dissociative group (—SO3H) and a compound having a Lewis acid group MXn?1, wherein the Lewis acid group and the proton-dissociative group are interacted with each other. The compound having the Lewis acid group is a Lewis acid compound MXn or a polymer having a Lewis acid group MXn?1. The electrolyte having a proton-dissociative group is a fluorine-containing electrolyte, an electrolyte composed of a hydrocarbon-based resin, an inorganic resin, a hybrid resin of an organic resin and an inorganic resin, or the like, or a fullerene compound.

Abstract: Sulfonated polymers are made by the direct polymerization of a sulfonated monomer to form the sulfonated polymers. The types of sulfonated polymers may include polysulfones or polyimides. The sulfonated polymers can be formed into membranes that may be used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells or as ion exchange membranes. The membranes formed from the sulfonated polymers exhibit improved properties over that of Nafion®. A heteropoly acid may be added to the sulfonated polymer to form a nanocomposite membrane in which the heteropoly acid is highly dispersed. The addition of a heteropoly acid to the sulfonated polymer increases the thermal stability of the membrane, enhances the conductivity above 100° C., and reduces the water uptake of the membrane.

Abstract: A proton conductive polymer electrolyte includes an acidic functional group-containing aromatic hydrocarbon polymer and an electron donor functional group-containing compound. When used in a fuel cell, the proton conductive polymer electrolyte provides a long-term stable power generating performance at an operating temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. in non-humidified conditions or a relative humidity of 50% or less.

Abstract: The present teachings encompass proton-conductive material comprising a new polymer compound. A proton-conductive electrolyte comprising the proton-conductive material, and a fuel cell comprising the proton-conductive electrolyte are disclosed. A proton-conductive material comprising poly(phosphophenylene oxide) that comprises polyphenylene oxide as the main chain, and at least one phosphonic acid group as a side chain of the main chain, a proton-conductive electrolyte comprising the proton-conductive material, and a fuel cell employing the proton-conductive electrolyte, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte membrane (100); and a pair of electrode catalyst layers (110) provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. Furthermore, in the present invention, a plurality of hydrophilic groups exist along a substantially continuous concentration gradient from a surface of one of the electrode catalyst layers opposite to a surface thereof in contact with the electrolyte membrane to a surface of the other electrode catalyst layer opposite to a surface thereof in contact with the electrolyte membrane in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane (100) and the electrode catalyst layers (110). This makes it possible to provide a membrane electrode assembly with water management performed not only in the surfaces but also in the entire assembly in the thickness direction.

Abstract: Provided are an ion conductive resin fiber, an ion conductive hybrid membrane, a membrane electrode assembly and a fuel cell. The ion conductive resin fiber comprises an inner layer including an ion conductive resin; and an outer layer including an ion conductive resin having larger EW than the ion conductive resin of the inner layer, and surrounding the inner layer. The ion conductive resin fiber and the ion conductive hybrid membrane are excellent in ion conductivity, polar solvent stability and dimensional stability under low humidity conditions. The fuel cell manufactured using the same has advantages of stable operation and management of a system at ease, removal or reduction of components related to water management, and even in case of low relative humidity, operation at high temperature of 80° C. or higher.

Abstract: The invention relates to membrane-electrode assemblies for the electrolysis of water (electrolysis MEAs), which contain an ion-conducting membrane having a front and rear side; a first catalyst layer on the front side; a first gas diffusion layer on the front side; a second catalyst layer on the rear side, and a second gas diffusion layer on the rear side. The first gas diffusion layer has smaller planar dimensions than the ion-conducting membrane, whereas the second gas diffusion layer has essentially the same planar dimensions as the ion-conducting membrane (“semi-coextensive design”). The MEAs also comprise an unsupported free membrane surface that yields improved adhesion properties of the sealing material. The invention also relates to a method for producing the MEA products. Pressure-resistant, gastight and cost-effective membrane-electrode assemblies are obtained, that are used in PEM water electrolyzers, regenerative fuel cells or in other electrochemical devices.

Abstract: Block copolymer that can be formed into an ion—Conductive membrane are provided. The block copolymer of the invention includes a first polymer block and a second polymer block attached to the first polymer block. The second polymer block has a main polymer chain and one or more side chains extending from the main polymer chain. The one or more side chains include at least one substitutent for proton transfer. Block copolymers utilizing phosphoric acid groups are also provided.

Abstract: By performing photograft polymerization of functional monomers such that grafted chains will be introduced from the surface of a polymer base film into its interior without deteriorating its inherent characteristics and also by creating a multiplex crosslinked structure between the grafted chains and the base film under such conditions as to cause preferential radiation-induced crosslinking reaction, there is produced a polymer electrolyte membrane having high enough oxidation resistance and proton conductivity to be suitable for use in fuel cells.

Abstract: A proton conducting polymer is described herein which generally comprises a proton donating polymer and a Lewis acid. The Lewis acids may comprise one or more rare earth triflates. The proton conducting polymer exhibits excellent proton conductivity in low humidity environments.

Abstract: Noble metal catalysts and methods for producing the catalysts are provided. The catalysts are useful in applications such as fuel cells. The catalysts exhibit reduced agglomeration of catalyst particles as compared to conventional noble metal catalysts.