Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the extrusion of thermoplastic polymers having alkaline ionic groups. The process consists in preparing a mixture composed of a thermoplastic polymer having alkaline ionic groups and a plasticizer, in extruding the mixture obtained to form a film; then in washing the film obtained in aqueous medium to remove said plasticizer(s). The plasticizer is chosen from non-volatile compounds which are stable with respect to the ionic groups of the polymer, which are soluble in water or in solvents that are miscible with water, said plasticizers being chosen from the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a weak bond of the hydrogen bond-type, and the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a strong bond, of the ionic bond-type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel superconducting hybrid polymer material and to the preparation method and uses thereof, particularly for proton superexchange membranes usable as fuel cell electrolytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer, a polymer electrolyte and the use thereof. The polymer has, as a structural unit, a phenylene group in which two or three hydrogen atoms each have been substituted with a group represented by the following formula (A), and is insoluble in water: wherein A1 represents a group represented by formula (1a), formula (1b) or formula (1c) below, and the two or three A1 groups may be the same as or different from each other, wherein R10 and R11 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aryl group of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R12 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aryl group of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, M represents a metal ion or an ammonium ion, and in a case where M represents a divalent or higher-valent metal ion, M may be further bonded to another substituent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonated poly(arylene ether) copolymer, a manufacturing method thereof and a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonated poly(arylene ether) copolymer, a manufacturing method thereof and a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the extrusion of thermoplastic polymers having acid ionic groups. The process consists in preparing a mixture composed of a thermoplastic polymer having acid ionic groups and a plasticizer, in extruding the mixture obtained to form a film, then in washing the film obtained in aqueous medium to remove said plasticizer(s). The plasticizer is chosen from non-volatile compounds which are stable with respect to the ionic groups of the polymer, which are soluble in water or in solvents that are miscible with water, said plasticizers being chosen from the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a weak bond of the hydrogen bond-type, and the compounds that react with the ionic group of the polymer via formation of a strong bond, of the ionic bond-type.

Abstract: Assemblies or MEA devices (Membrane Electrode Assembly) comprising a membrane and two electrocatalytic layers on each side thereof, wherein: the area of each of the two electrocatalytic layers is lower than that of the membrane; on each of the two sides of the ionomeric membrane there is at least one subgasket, applied on the MEA non catalyzed area; the edges of the ionomeric membranes being enclosed among said subgaskets.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane includes a cross-linking reaction product between a hydrophilic polymer and a cross-linking agent represented by Formula 1 below wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C20 aryl group, or substituted or unsubstituted C2-C20 heteroaryl group; and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 5. The polymer electrolyte membrane may be prepared by preparing a composition for forming a polymer electrolyte membrane including the hydrophilic polymer, the cross-linking agent represented by Formula 1 and a solvent, applying the composition for forming a polymer electrolyte membrane to a supporting substrate; and heat treating the composition for forming the polymer electrolyte membrane to form the polymer electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell or other device includes the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane has low solubility to a strong acid and excellent ionic conductivity.

Abstract: A cationic conductive polymer is described herein which generally comprises a proton donating polymer and an oxocarbonic acid. The cationic conductive polymer exhibits a high conductivity in low humidity environments.

Abstract: In the present invention, a material having a structure represented by formula (1) or (2) (wherein W equals N or C) is used as a solid electrolyte for a fuel cell. An electrolyte membrane having a small fuel crossover and a fuel cell having excellent ion conductivity and service capacity are obtained.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a polymer electrolyte membrane having power generation characteristics with a high output and long life and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the same. The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte membrane having a porous polymer film and a proton conducting component present in a hole of the porous polymer film, characterized in that the proton conducting component has a compound having a proton conducting group and a bicyclo ring structure.

Abstract: A highly proton conductive polymer electrolyte composite membrane for a fuel cell is provided. The composite membrane includes crosslinked polyvinylsulfonic acid. The composite membrane is produced by impregnating a mixed solution of vinylsulfonic acid as a monomer, a hydroxyl group-containing bisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent and a photoinitiator or thermal initiator into a microporous polymer support, polymerizing the monomer, and simultaneously thermal-crosslinking or photo-crosslinking the polymer to form a chemically crosslinked polymer electrolyte membrane which is also physically crosslinked with the porous support. Further provided is a method for producing the composite membrane in a simple manner at low cost as well as a fuel cell using the composite membrane.

Abstract: Monolayer ion-exchange membrane structured in the thickness comprising ion-exchange sites covalently bonded to a support polymer, the membrane comprising two surface zones located on either side of a mid-zone, each surface zone having a thickness of not more than 15% of the total thickness of the membrane, in which the surface zones have a mean ion-exchange site density Dsurface calculated on the thickness of the surface zones of at least Dtotal.

Abstract: A fueled cell system comprising: an anode compartment comprising a compound having the formula R1R2N—NR3R4, a salt, a hydrate or a solvate thereof, as fuel, and a catalyst layer which comprises copper or a copper alloy; a cathode compartment comprising an oxidant; and a separator interposed between said cathode and said anode compartments, wherein each of R1-R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heteroalicyclic, alkoxy, carboxy, ketone, amide, hydrazide and amine, provided that at least one of R1-R4 is hydrogen.

Abstract: Polymers having an improved ability to entrain water are characterized, in some embodiments, by unusual humidity-induced phase transitions. The described polymers (e.g., hydrophilically functionalized block copolymers) have a disordered state and one or more ordered states (e.g., a lamellar state, a gyroid state, etc.). In one aspect, the polymers are capable of under-going a disorder-to-order transition while the polymer is exposed to an increasing temperature at a constant relative humidity. In some aspects the polymer includes a plurality of portions, wherein a first portion forms proton-conductive channels within the membrane and wherein the channels have a width of less than about 6 nm. The described polymers are capable of entraining and preserving water at high temperature and low humidity. Surprisingly, in some embodiments, the polymers are capable of entraining greater amounts of water with the increase of temperature. The polymers can be used in Polymer Electrolyte Membranes in fuel cells.

Abstract: An electrolytic membrane comprising a porous membrane substrate containing a cross-linked polymer electrolyte having at least a structural component shown by following chemical formula 1: wherein A represents a repeating unit having an aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted by at least a sulfonic acid group, B represents a repeating unit having one of a nitrogen-containing hetero ring compound residue, and the sulfate, hydrochloride or organic sulfonate thereof, C represents a repeating unit having a cross-linked group, and X, Y and Z represent mol fractions of respective repeating units in the chemical formula 1, with 0.34?X?0.985, 0.005?Y?0.49, 0.01?Z?0.495 and Y?X and Z?X, provided that, in the repeating unit A, a ratio of the aromatic hydrocarbon group substituted by at least a sulfonic acid group is 0.3 to 1.0, and the number of the sulfonic acid group in the aromatic hydrocarbon group is 1 to 3.

Abstract: A cathodic gas diffusion electrode for the electrochemical production of aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions. The cathodic gas diffusion electrode comprises an electrically conductive gas diffusion substrate and a cathodic electrocatalyst layer supported on the gas diffusion substrate. A novel cathodic electrocatalyst layer comprises a cathodic electrocatalyst, a substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound, a fluorocarbon polymer hydrophobic agent and binder, and a perfluoronated sulphonic acid polymer. An electrochemical cell using the novel cathodic electrocatalyst layer has been shown to produce an aqueous solution having between 8 and 14 weight percent hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, such electrochemical cells have shown stable production of hydrogen peroxide solutions over 1000 hours of operation including numerous system shutdowns.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane (1) includes a base material layer (1) containing a hydrocarbon-based electrolyte as a main component, and a surface layer (5) laminated with the base material layer (1). The surface layer (5) is a layer containing, as a main component, a polymeric material having a hydroxyl group and a proton conductive group. The polymeric material that constitutes the surface layer (5) contains, for example, a first polymer having a hydroxyl group, and a second polymer having a proton conductive group. A matrix is formed by cross-linking the first polymer, and the second polymer can be held in the matrix.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells exhibits higher proton conductivity and superior thermal resistance, in which the solid polymer electrolyte membrane has a nitrogen atom and a sulfonic acid group, and a principal chain of a constitutional unit is a phenylene bond, is provided. In particular, the membrane electrode assembly for solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells preferably contains the sulfonated polyarylene expressed by the formula (1).

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the period length L in the membrane surface direction, which period length is defined by formula (1) and is measured by using a small-angle X-ray diffractometer, is less than 52.0 nm: L=?1/(2 sin(2?i/2))??(1) wherein 2?i represents a scattering angle in the membrane surface direction and ?1 represents the wavelength of X-rays used when the scattering angle in the membrane surface direction is measured.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a base material and having excellent proton conductivity and methanol blocking properties is provided. The method includes: heat-treating a precursor membrane including PVA and a water-soluble polymer electrolyte having a proton conductive group to proceed crystallization of the PVA; and chemically crosslinking the heat-treated precursor membrane with a crosslinking agent reactive with the PVA, to form a polymer electrolyte membrane in which a crosslinked PVA is a base material and protons are conducted through the electrolyte retained in the base material. The content of a water-soluble polymer except the PVA and the water-soluble polymer electrolyte in the precursor membrane is in a weight ratio of less than 0.1 with respect to the PVA.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte composition comprising a component (A) and a component (B) described below, wherein if the equivalent weight of cation exchange groups in the component (A) is termed Ic, and the equivalent number of anion exchange groups in the component (B) is termed Ia, then the equivalent weight ratio represented by Ic/Ia is from 1 to 10,000.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes an ion exchange resin membrane, and an electric conductive polymer. The electric conductive polymer is present along a thickness direction of the ion exchange resin membrane from one side of the ion exchange resin membrane to the interior of the ion exchange resin membrane.

Abstract: The present invention is an electrolyte membrane comprising an acid and a basic polymer, where the acid is a low-volatile acid that is fluorinated and is either oligomeric or non-polymeric, and where the basic polymer is protonated by the acid and is stable to hydrolysis.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte composition comprising a component (A) defined below, and at least one kind of a component (B) selected from the group consisting of a component (B1) defined below and a component (B2) defined below: (A) a polymer electrolyte; (B1) a compound having a degree of affinity for platinum of 10% or more; and (B2) a compound having at least two kinds of atoms having an unshared electron pair, selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen atom, a phosphorus atom, and a sulfur atom in the molecule.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ion-conductive composition that has proton conductivity over a wide temperature range, including the intermediate and high temperature range of 100° C. and higher, and an ion-conductive composite material such as ion-conductive membrane prepared from the composition. The composite ion-conductive material comprises the ion-conductive composition of the present invention, and the ion-conductive composition includes an ion-conductive polymer and ion-conductive inorganic solid 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: An electrolyte membrane with high durability is provided. The electrolyte membrane includes a porous film containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring or a cyano group, and a proton conductive component existing in pores of the porous film, wherein the proton conductive component includes a polymer compound containing at least a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, a cyano group, and an acidic group in one molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alternate proton conducting polymer electrolyte membrane and a process for the preparation thereof. More particularly the present invention provides a conducting hybrid polymer electrolyte membrane comprising a stable host polymer and a proton-conducting medium as a guest polymer for its suitability in PEM-based fuel cells. The present invention deals with host polymer, comprising a group of poly (vinyl alcohol), poly (vinyl fluoride), polyethylene oxide, polyethyleneimine, polyethylene glycol, cellulose acetate, polyvinylmethylethyl ether, more preferably polyvinyl alcohol and a guest polymer comprising poly(styrene sulfonic acid), poly(acrylic acid), sulfonated phenolic, polyacrylonitrile, polymethyl acrylate, and quaternary ammonium salt, more preferably poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane for a fuel cell, comprising a graft (co)polymer comprising a main chain and grafts comprising at least one proton acceptor group and at least one proton donor group.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly having superior hot water resistance has a membrane containing an aromatic polymer having a repeating unit expressed by general formula (1): in which A represents independently either —CO— or —SO2—; B represents independently an oxygen atom or sulfur atom; R1 to R8, which may be identical or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom, alkyl group, phenyl group or nitrile group; R9 to R24, which may be identical or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or phenyl group; and ‘a’ represents an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: Polysulfone based polymer comprising a repeat unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 is provided: wherein, X, M1, M2, a, b, c, d, e, f, R1, R2, R3, R4 and n are as defined in the detailed description.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a branched and sulphonated multi block copolymer and an electrolyte membrane using the same, more precisely, a branched and sulphonated multi block copolymer composed of the repeating unit represented by formula 1 and a preparation method thereof, a hydrogenated branched and sulphonated multi block copolymer, a branched and sulphonated multi block copolymer electrolyte membrane and a fuel cell to which the branched and sulphonated multi block copolymer electrolyte membrane is applied. The electrolyte membrane of the present invention has high proton conductivity and excellent mechanical properties as well as chemical stability, so it can be effectively used for the production of thin film without the decrease of membrane properties according to the increase of sulfonic acid group since it enables the regulation of the distribution, the location and the number of sulfonic acid group in polymer backbone.

Abstract: Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cell polymer electrolyte membranes are provided comprising bound anionic functional groups and polyvalent cations, such as Mn or Ru cations, which demonstrate increased durability. Methods of making same are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte membrane which enables a fuel cell to have a high maximum output when used therein since it has high proton conductivity and high hydrogen gas impermeability. Also disclosed are a method for producing such an electrolyte membrane, and a solid polymer fuel cell using such an electrolyte membrane. A method for producing an electrolyte membrane including a step for impregnating a porous base with a solution containing a sulfonic acid group-containing vinyl monomer and then polymerizing the monomer is characterized in that 80% by mole or more of vinyl sulfonic acid having purity of 90% or more, and/or a salt thereof is contained as the sulfonic acid group-containing vinyl monomer, and the concentration of the vinyl sulfonic acid and/or a salt thereof in the solution is set at 35% by weight or more.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte having a water cluster structure composed of hydrophilic groups and occluded water in a solid polymer electrolyte, characterized in that the water cluster structure difference corresponding to the difference between diameters of the pore and the bottleneck part in the water cluster structure calculated by the dissipative particle dynamics method is 15.4×0.072 nm or less. The solid polymer electrolyte has improved ionic conductivity.