Abstract: A method for recycling anode and/or cathode catalyst from the catalyst coated membranes comprising proton exchange membrane, a continuous nonporous cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprising alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer, an anode coating layer comprising anode catalyst particles, a cathode coating layer comprising cathode catalyst particles, and optionally a second continuous nonporous cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer coating between the second surface of the proton exchange membrane and the cathode coating layer. The cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer coating between the proton exchange membrane and the anode and/or cathode catalyst coating layer is dissolved in an aqueous solution with a pH of greater than 7. The catalyst coated membrane is delaminated, and the anode and/or cathode catalyst is recovered.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus for hydrogenating olefins wherein the hydrogen stream is generated from the electrolysis of water is described. Water is derived from a first reaction step wherein a first feed stream comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons is reacted to produce a first reacted product stream comprising olefins and a second reacted product stream comprising water. The second reacted product stream is electrolyzed to produce an electrolyzer product stream comprising hydrogen. Hydrogen is used to hydrogenate olefins. A paraffin stream can be obtained from the hydrogenated effluent.

Abstract: Proton exchange membranes are described. The proton exchange membranes comprise a reinforced membrane, a continuous nonporous hydrogen recombination catalyst coating layer comprising a mixture of hydrogen recombination catalyst and a proton conducting ionomer, and a continuous nonporous cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprising alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. Catalyst coated membranes incorporating the proton exchange membranes and methods of making the proton exchange membranes are also described.

Abstract: Composite proton exchange membranes are described. The composite proton-exchange membranes comprise three layers including a proton exchange membrane layer, a continuous nonporous organic-inorganic composite coating layer, and a continuous nonporous cross-linked polyelectrolyte multilayer coating. Catalyst coated membranes incorporating the composite proton exchange membranes and methods of making the composite proton exchange membranes are also described.

Abstract: A low cost, high selectivity asymmetric polyimide/polyethersulfone (PES) blend hollow fiber membrane, a method of making the membrane and its use for a variety of liquid, gas, and vapor separations such as deep desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuels, ethanol/water separations, pervaporation dehydration of aqueous/organic mixtures, CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, H2/CH4, He/CH4, O2/N2, H2S/CH4, olefin/paraffin, iso/normal paraffins separations, and other light gas mixture separations. The polyimide/PES blend hollow fiber membrane is fabricated from a blend of a polyimide polymer and PES and showed surprisingly unique gas separation property with higher selectivities than either the polyimide hollow fiber membrane without PES polymer or the PES hollow fiber membrane without PES polymer for gas separations such as for H2/CH4, He/CH4, H2S/CH4, CO2/CH4 separations.

Abstract: Deuterated anion exchange polymers, methods of making the deuterated anion exchange polymers, anion exchange membranes comprising the deuterated anion exchange polymers, and membrane electrode assemblies comprising the deuterated anion exchange polymers are described.

Abstract: A family of catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline condition is disclosed. The catalysts utilize elements which are abundant on earth, leading to lower costs compared to IrO2 catalysts. The catalysts can be used in the anode of an anion exchange membrane-based water electrolyzer. The family of new catalysts comprises Ni, Fe, M, B, and O, where M is a metal from Group VIB, Group VIII, and elements 57-71 of the Periodic Table. The catalyst has a layered double hydroxide structure. Methods of making the catalysts are also described.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus for hydrogenating olefins wherein the hydrogen stream is generated from the electrolysis of water is described. Water is derived from a first reaction step wherein a first feed stream comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons is reacted to produce a first reacted product stream comprising olefins and a second reacted product stream comprising water. The second reacted product stream is electrolyzed to produce an electrolyzer product stream comprising hydrogen. Hydrogen is used to hydrogenate olefins. A paraffin stream can be obtained from the hydrogenated effluent.

Abstract: Anion exchange polymers comprise a plurality of repeating units of formula (I). The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1? and X1? to form a neutral precursor polymer followed by a Menshutkin reaction to convert the neutral precursor polymer to the anion exchange polymer with halide-based counterions, and then an ion exchange reaction to covert the anion exchange polymer with halide-based counterions to acetate (CH3COO?), trifluoroacetate (CF3COO?), propionate (CH3CH2COO?), or butanoate anion (CH3CH2CH2COO?) counterions. Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

Abstract: An iridium-based catalyst and method of making the catalyst are described. The catalyst comprises a catalytic material comprising particles comprising iridium or a mixture of iridium and iridium oxide. The particles comprise an interconnected network of nanoparticles. The particles are in the range of 50 nm to 1 ?m, and the nanoparticles are in the range of 2 nm to 15 nm. It may have a BET surface area of 30 m2/g or more and a pore volume of at least 0.10 cc/g. The catalyst is made using organic structure directing agents.

Abstract: An ionically conductive thin film composite (TFC) membrane is described. The low cost, high performance TFC membrane comprises a first micropous support membrane, a hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on a first surface of the microporous support membrane, and a second microporous support membrane on the surface of the hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer opposite the first microporous support membrane. The hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer is ionically conductive. The ionomeric polymer can also be present in the micropores of the first microporous support membrane. Methods of making the TFC membranes and redox flow battery systems incorporating the TFC membranes are also described.

Abstract: A new multilayer ion-exchange membrane comprising an ion-exchange membrane layer, a catalyst layer coated on a first surface of the ion exchange membrane, a first polyelectrolyte multilayer coated on the catalyst layer, and optionally a second polyelectrolyte multilayer coated on a second surface of the ion-exchange membrane for electrolysis applications has been developed.

Abstract: Catalyst ink formulas for the preparation of CCMs are described. The catalyst ink formulas comprise a catalyst, an ionomer, a solvent, and a porogen soluble in the solvent. The catalyst ink formula may also comprise an additive, such as an electron conductive polymer. The anode catalyst coating layer or both the anode and the cathode catalyst coating layers prepared from the catalyst ink formula comprises uniformly distributed nanopores that allow easy gas removal and uniform water feed distribution, which will avoid or reduce the direct energy losses for the electrolyzers. Catalyst coated membranes and methods of making a catalyst coated membranes are also described.

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: An integrated process for hydrogenating olefins wherein the hydrogen stream is generated from electrolysis of water is described. Water is derived from a first reaction step wherein a first feed stream comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons is reacted to produce a first reacted product stream comprising olefins and a second reacted product stream comprising water. The second reacted product stream is electrolyzed to produce an electrolyzer product stream comprising hydrogen. Hydrogen is used to hydrogenate olefins. A paraffin stream can be obtained from the hydrogenated effluent.

Abstract: Anion exchange polymers comprise a plurality of repeating units of formula (I). The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar1?, Ar2?, and X1? to form a neutral precursor polymer followed by a Menshutkin reaction to convert the neutral precursor polymer to the anion exchange polymer. Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

Abstract: An integrated process for hydrogenating olefins wherein the hydrogen stream is generated from electrolysis of water is described. Water is derived from a first reaction step wherein a first feed stream comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons is reacted to produce a first reacted product stream comprising olefins and a second reacted product stream comprising water. The second reacted product stream is electrolyzed to produce an electrolyzer product stream comprising hydrogen. Hydrogen is used to hydrogenate olefins. A paraffin stream can be obtained from the hydrogenated effluent.

Abstract: A thin film composite gas separation membrane comprising a polyether block amide copolymer coating layer and a nanoporous asymmetric support membrane with nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane and gelatin polymers inside the nanopores on the skin layer surface of the support membrane. A method for making the thin film composite gas separation membrane is provided as well as the use of the membrane for a variety of separations such as separations of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas, carbon dioxide removal from flue gas, fuel gas conditioning, hydrogen/methane, polar molecules, and ammonia mixtures with methane, nitrogen or hydrogen and other light gases separations, but also for natural gas liquids recovery and hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide removal from natural gas in a single step.