Abstract: A high selectivity and high CO2 plasticization resistant polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for gas separation applications. The polymer may be synthesized from a superacid catalyzed poly(hydroalkylation) reaction. Membranes made from the polymer and gas separation processes using the membranes made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A high selectivity and high CO2 plasticization resistant polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for gas separation applications. The polymer may be synthesized from a superacid catalyzed poly(hydroalkylation) reaction. Membranes made from the polymer and gas separation processes using the membranes made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A low cost, sandwich-structured thin film composite (TFC) anion exchange membrane for redox flow batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, and other electrochemical reaction applications is described. The sandwich-structured TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane, a first hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer, a cross-linked protonated polyamine anion exchange polymer coating layer on top of the first hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer, and a second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer protective layer on top of the cross-linked protonated polyamine anion exchange polymer coating layer. Methods of making the TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane and redox flow battery system incorporating the TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane are also described.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for electrochemical reactions. The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1?, Ar2?, and X1? followed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction or a grafting reaction, and optionally an acidification reaction. Proton-exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A low cost, sandwich-structured thin film composite (TFC) anion exchange membrane for redox flow batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis, and other electrochemical reaction applications is described. The sandwich-structured TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane, a first hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer, a cross-linked protonated polyamine anion exchange polymer coating layer on top of the first hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer, and a second hydrophilic ionomeric polymer protective layer on top of the cross-linked protonated polyamine anion exchange polymer coating layer. Methods of making the TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane and redox flow battery system incorporating the TFC anion exchange membrane comprises a microporous substrate membrane are also described.

Abstract: A method for preparing a new polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane has been developed for electrolysis and fuel cell applications. The method comprises: applying a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating to a surface of a cation exchange membrane, the polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprising alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer to form the polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane and optionally treating the polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane in an acidic solution. The polycation polymer layer is in contact with the cation exchange membrane.

Abstract: A new polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane for electrolysis and fuel cell applications has been developed for electrolysis and fuel cell applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane comprises: a cation exchange membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on one or both surfaces of the cation exchange membrane. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. The polycation polymer layer is deposited on and is in contact with the cation exchange membrane. The top layer of the polyelectrolyte multilayer coating can be either a polycation polymer layer or a polyanion polymer layer.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a plurality of repeat units of formula (I) or formula (IV) wherein each Ar1 and Ar4 is a unit comprising two or more aromatic groups; Ar1 comprises at least one cross-linkable group; Ar4 comprises a substituent selected from —SO3H, —CO2H, —PO3H2, and salts thereof; R1 and R2, and R7 and R8, are independently selected from C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 haloalkyl, C3-10 cycloalkyl, C3-10 heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted, or R1 and R2, or R7 and R8, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a carbocycle or heterocycle, provided that at least one of R7 and R8 contains an amide group or at least one geminal pair of R7 and R8, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, forms a carbocycle or heterocycle that contains an amide group; and membranes and membrane electrode assemblies including same.

Abstract: Anion exchange polymers having high OH? conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical stability have been developed for use in AEMs. The anion exchange polymers have stable hydrophobic polymer backbones, stable hydrophilic quaternary ammonium cationic groups, and hydrophilic phenolic hydroxyl groups on the polymer side chains. The polymers have polymer backbones free of ether bonds, hydrophilic polymer side chains, and piperidinium ion-conducting functionality, which enables efficient and stable operation in water or CO2 electrolysis, redox flow battery, and fuel cell applications. The polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

Abstract: A composite proton conductive membrane, comprising an inorganic filler having covalently bonded acidic functional groups and a high surface area of at least 150 m2/g; and a water insoluble ionically conductive polymer. This membrane provides advantages over traditional polymeric proton conductive membranes for redox flow battery, fuel cell, and electrolysis applications include: 1) enhanced proton conductivity/permeance due to the formation of additional nanochannels for proton conducting; 2) improved proton/electrolyte selectivity for redox flow battery application; 3) reduced membrane swelling and gas or electrolyte crossover; 4) improved chemical stability; 5) increased cell operation time with stable performance, and 6) reduced membrane cost.

Abstract: Methods to improve redox flow battery performance with improved CE, reduced electrolyte solution crossover, and simplified solution refreshing process have been developed. The methods include controlling the pre-charging degree and conditions to allow high quality metal plating (ductile and uniform), for example, Fe(O), on the negative electrode. Control of the pre-charging conditions can be combined with increasing the concentration of metal ions compared to existing systems, while maintaining the same concentration in both the negative and positive electrolytes, or increasing the concentration of metal ions in the negative electrolyte so that the negative electrolyte has a higher concentration of metal ions than the positive electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of forming a plastic component can includes treating a polysaccharide source with an acid solution under conditions sufficient to extract the starch from the polysaccharide source, wherein the polysaccharide precipitates in the acid solution; separating the precipitate from the acid solution; drying the separated precipitate; admixing the dried precipitate with water to form a slurry; and casting or molding the slurry to form the plastic component.

Abstract: Stable and high performance positive and negative electrolytes compositions to be used in redox flow battery systems are described. The redox flow battery system, comprises: at least one rechargeable cell comprising a positive electrolyte, a negative electrolyte, and an ionically conductive membrane positioned between the positive electrolyte and the negative electrolyte, the positive electrolyte in contact with a positive electrode, and the negative electrolyte in contact with a negative electrode. The positive electrolyte consists essentially of water, a first amino acid, an inorganic acid, an iron precursor, a supporting electrolyte, and optionally a boric acid. The negative electrolyte consists essentially of water, the iron precursor, the supporting electrolyte, and a negative electrolyte additive. The iron precursor is FeCl2, FeCl3, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, FeO, Fe, Fe2O3, or combinations thereof. The supporting electrolyte is LiCl, NaCl, Na2SO4, KCl, NH4Cl, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An ionically conductive asymmetric composite membrane for use in redox flow battery, fuel cell, electrolysis applications and the like is described. It comprises a microporous substrate membrane and an asymmetric hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer. The coating layer is made of a hydrophilic ionomeric polymer. The asymmetric hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer comprises a porous layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the porous layer on the surface of the microporous substrate layer and a nonporous layer on the second surface of the porous support layer. The microporous substrate membrane is made from a different polymer from the hydrophilic ionomeric polymer.

Abstract: A high selectivity and high CO2 plasticization resistant polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for gas separation applications. The polymer may be synthesized from a superacid catalyzed poly(hydroalkylation) reaction. Membranes made from the polymer and gas separation processes using the membranes made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) for electrochemical reactions. The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1?, Ar2?, and X1? followed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction or a grafting reaction, and optionally an acidification reaction. Proton-exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies made from the polymer are also described.

Abstract: A polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane has been developed for redox flow batteries and other electrochemical reaction applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane comprises an ionically conductive thin film composite membrane comprising a microporous support membrane, a hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous support membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on the second surface of the hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer (the side opposite the support membrane). The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. Methods of making the polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane and redox flow battery system including the polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane are also described.

Abstract: A new polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane for electrolysis and fuel cell applications has been developed for electrolysis and fuel cell applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane comprises: a cation exchange membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on one or both surfaces of the cation exchange membrane. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. The polycation polymer layer is deposited on and is in contact with the cation exchange membrane. The top layer of the polyelectrolyte multilayer coating can be either a polycation polymer layer or a polyanion polymer layer.

Abstract: Anion exchange polymers having high OH? conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical stability have been developed for use in AEMs. The anion exchange polymers have stable hydrophobic polymer backbones, stable hydrophilic quaternary ammonium cationic groups, and hydrophilic phenolic hydroxyl groups on the polymer side chains. The polymers have polymer backbones free of ether bonds, hydrophilic polymer side chains, and piperidinium ion-conducting functionality, which enables efficient and stable operation in water or CO2 electrolysis, redox flow battery, and fuel cell applications. The polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I) Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

Abstract: Methods to improve redox flow battery performance with improved CE, reduced electrolyte solution crossover, and simplified solution refreshing process have been developed. The methods include controlling the pre-charging degree and conditions to allow high quality metal plating (ductile and uniform), for example, Fe(0), on the negative electrode. Control of the pre-charging conditions can be combined with increasing the concentration of metal ions compared to existing systems, while maintaining the same concentration in both the negative and positive electrolytes, or increasing the concentration of metal ions in the negative electrolyte so that the negative electrolyte has a higher concentration of metal ions than the positive electrolyte.