Abstract: An antifriction coating formulation composition comprising (a) a soluble resin, (b) an insoluble polymer, (c) optionally a solid lubricant, and (d) a solvent.

Abstract: In a first aspect, an electrode composition includes an electroactive material and an interpolymer including polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers. A first highly fluorinated monomer provides the interpolymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom. In a second aspect, an energy storage device includes an anode, a cathode, a porous separator between the anode and the cathode and an electrolyte. The anode, the cathode or both the anode and the cathode include a binder material including an interpolymer including polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers. A first highly fluorinated monomer provides the interpolymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom.

Abstract: In a first aspect, an interpolymer includes polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers. A first highly fluorinated monomer provides the interpolymer a side chain of at least one carbon atom and the interpolymer is soluble in a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide and mixtures thereof. In a second aspect, a polymer binder solution includes a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide and mixtures thereof and an interpolymer including polymer units derived from about 64 to about 75 mole percent vinyl fluoride and from about 25 to about 36 mole percent of at least two highly fluorinated monomers.

Abstract: Described are binder precursor compositions for cathodes containing polyamic acid which has a anhydride to amine ratio of greater than or equal to 0.985:1 to less than or equal to 1.10:1. These compositions are useful as cathodes in electrochemical cells, such as lithium ion batteries. Also described are electrodes comprising the binder precursor compositions and methods to prepare the electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed are composite polymeric ion exchange membranes and processes for their production and use in electrochemical cells, wherein ion exchange polymers are impregnated into non-consolidated nanowebs.

Abstract: The invention relates to DMFC catalyst coated membranes having improved water crossover and methanol crossover performance, excellent power output and durability, which utilize a thin composite reinforced polymer membrane layer and a thin cathode layer to achieve these performance benefits, and methods of making these catalyst coated membranes. The catalyst coated membrane for use in a direct methanol fuel cell have an anode layer, a thin cathode layer, a thin reinforced ionomer membrane, and do not rely on any additional barrier layers or complex water and/or methanol management layers or peripherals or to improve performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proton exchange membrane and a membrane electrode assembly for an electrochemical fuel cell. A catalytically active component is disposed within the membrane electrode assembly. The catalytically active component comprises particles of cobalt cations and boron stabilized silicon oxide. The present invention also provides for a process for increasing peroxide radical resistance in a membrane electrode that includes the introduction of the catalytically active component described into a membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitized electrochemical cell sub-assembly having a first separator plate and a second separator plate that each has a first surface. A recess is located in at least one of the first surfaces to define a chamber adjacent the periphery of the plates when the plates face each other. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising an ion exchange membrane and a pair of gas diffusion layers is disposed on and between each of the first surfaces between the two plates when the plates face each other so that the peripheral edge of the ion exchange membrane is located within the chamber. Also located in the chamber is a non-conductive sealant polymer that seals and joins the first and second plates to each other, and that seals and joins the first and second plates to the edge of the ion exchange membrane. Also disclosed is a fabrication method for making the unitized electrochemical cell sub-assembly.

Abstract: An electroconductive integrated substrate and a process of producing the same, which comprises a porous conductive gas diffusion layer having large number of pores with significant gas permeability, and a gas impermeable electroconductive flow field plate having landing surfaces laminated on the surface of gas diffusion layer and integrally bonded to thereto by the molten composite from the landing surface. There is provided a process for joining the gas diffusion layer to a flow field plate in an electrochemical cell. The process comprises the step of welding the landing surface of the flow field plate to the gas diffusion layer using resistance welding.

Abstract: There is provided a process for sealing a coolant plate to an adjacent bi-polar plate or coolant plate in an electrochemical cell. The first coolant plate comprises at least one mating region for mating with a complementary region on the adjacent plate, the adjacent plate is a second coolant plate or a bipolar plate of the electrochemical cell, and the first coolant plate and the adjacent plate each comprise a polymer and conductive filler. The process comprises the step of welding the mating region to the complementary region to create a seal formed by the polymer at the mating region and the complementary region. Welding may be done using resistance welding or vibration welding processes.

Abstract: A fluorinated ion exchange polymer is prepared by grafting a monomer onto a base polymer, wherein the grafting monomer is selected from the group consisting of structure 1a, 1b and mixture thereof; wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of —RFSO2F, —RFSO3M, —RSO2NH2 and —RFSO2N(M)SO2R2F, where in M is hydrogen, an alkali cation or ammonium; and RF and R2F are perfluorinated or partially fluorinated, and may optionally include ether oxygens; and n is between 1 and 2 for 1a, or n is between 1 and 3 for 1b. These ion exchange polymers are useful is preparing catalyst coated membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells.

Abstract: A fluorinated ion exchange polymer prepared by grafting a monomer on to a base polymer, wherein the grafting monomer is selected from the group consisting of structure 1a, structure 1b and mixtures thereof, (INSERT 1a and 1b HERE) wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of —RFSO2F (sulfonyl fluoride), —RFSO3M (fluorosulfonic acid or salt), RFSO2NH2 (fluorosulfonamide), and —RFSO2N(M)SO2R2F (imide); wherein M is H, an alkali cation, or ammonium; and RF and R2F groups are perfluorinated or partially fluorinated, and may optionally include ether oxygens; and n is between 1 and 2 for 1a, or n is between 1 and 3 for 1b. These ion exchange polymers are useful in preparing catalyst coated membranes and membrane electrode assemblies used in fuel cells.

Abstract: There is provided a process for joining a gas diffusion layer to a separator plate of an electrochemical cell. The gas diffusion layer comprises a porous body that allows a reactant gas to diffuse through the gas diffusion layer. The separator plate comprises at least one landing surface formed on a surface of the separator plate, and the separator plate and landing surface comprising a polymer and conductive filler. The process includes the step of welding the landing surface to the gas diffusion layer by impregnating some of the polymer on the landing surface within a portion of the porous body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitized electrochemical cell sub-assembly having a first separator plate and a second separator plate that each has a first surface. A recess is located in at least one of the first surfaces to define a chamber adjacent the periphery of the plates when the plates face each other. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) comprising an ion exchange membrane and a pair of gas diffusion layers is disposed on and between each of the first surfaces between the two plates when the plates face each other so that the peripheral edge of the ion exchange membrane is located within the chamber. Also located in the chamber is a non-conductive sealant polymer that seals and joins the first and second plates to each other, and that seals and joins the first and second plates to the edge of the ion exchange membrane. Also disclosed is a fabrication method for making the unitized electrochemical cell sub-assembly.

Abstract: Multipurpose sealing adhesive materials for sealing different components of an electrochemical cell are provided. The sealing materials are acid, acid anhydride, acid ester or metallocene modified polyolefins that are capable of providing multiple sealing functionalities in a heat activated sealing process. These sealing polymers are capable of adhering to plain and textured metal, graphite and graphite-filled polymer composite separator plates.

Abstract: Graft polymeric membranes and methods for making graft polymeric membranes have one or more trifluorovinyl aromatic monomers that are radiation graft polymerized to a polymeric base film. The membranes comprise a polymeric base film to which has been graft polymerized substituted ?,?,?-trifluorostyrene and/or ?,?,?-trifluorovinylnaphthylene monomers, which are activated towards graft polymerization. As ion-exchange membranes, the membranes are suitable for use in electrode apparatus, including membrane electrode assemblies in, for example, fuel cells. The membranes can also be crosslinked.

Abstract: Graft polymeric membranes and methods for making graft polymeric membranes have one or more trifluorovinyl aromatic monomers that are radiation graft polymerized to a polymeric base film. The membranes comprise a polymeric base film to which has been graft polymerized substituted &agr;,&agr;,&bgr;-trifluorostyrene and/or &agr;,&agr;,&bgr;-trifluorovinylnaphthylene monomers, which are activated towards graft polymerization. As ion-exchange membranes, the membranes are suitable for use in electrode apparatus, including membrane electrode assemblies in, for example, fuel cells. The membranes can also be crosslinked.

Abstract: Graft polymeric membranes and methods for making graft polymeric membranes have one or more trifluorovinyl aromatic monomers that are radiation graft polymerized to a polymeric base film. The membranes comprise a polymeric base film to which has been graft polymerized substituted &agr;,&agr;,&bgr;-trifluorostyrene and/or &agr;,&agr;,&bgr;-trifluorovinylnaphthylene monomers, which are activated towards graft polymerization. As ion-exchange membranes, the membranes are suitable for use in electrode apparatus, including membrane electrode assemblies in, for example, fuel cells. The membranes can also be crosslinked.