Abstract: A cation exchange membrane comprising a supported membrane having first and second opposed major surfaces, wherein the membrane comprises ionomer, and wherein at least one of: the membrane is supported on the first major surface, but unsupported on the second major surface; the cation exchange membrane has a porosity, wherein at least 90 (in some embodiments, at least 95, 96, 97, 98, or even at least 99) percent by volume of the porosity is filled with ionomer, and wherein at least one of the first or second major surfaces of the cation exchange membrane is free of a continuous ionomer layer thereon external to the electrolyte diffusion layer; or the ionomer has a cohesive strength, wherein the ionomer has a maximum annealing temperature that maximizes the cohesive strength of the ionomer, wherein the membrane is supported by at least one support layer, and wherein the support layer has a melting temperature that is less than the maximum annealing temperature of the ionomer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.

Abstract: A method includes unwinding a web material from a support and providing an elastomeric stamp, wherein the stamp includes a base surface and an arrangement of pattern elements extending away from the base surface, and wherein each pattern element has a stamping surface with a lateral dimension of less than about 5 microns and a height with respect to the base surface, and wherein an aspect ratio of the height to the lateral dimension is at least 1.5. The stamping surfaces of the pattern elements are inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule, wherein the functionalizing molecule includes a functional group selected to bind to said substrate material.

Abstract: A system, including a moving web of material unwound from a support and a stamp mounted on a roller, wherein the stamp includes a base surface and a continuous, regular array of pattern elements having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and extending above the base surface, and wherein the stamping elements each have a substantially planar stamping surface. An inking roller with an inking surface at least periodicially contacts the stamping surface of the stamping elements. The inking surface is impregnated with an ink composition including an organosulfur compound having a thiol functional group selected to bind to a major surface of the web material to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) thereon according to the array of pattern elements on the stamping surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patterned micro-contact printing stamp for micro contact printing including the making of a submaster of e.g. epoxy, against which a micro-contact printing stamp from polydimethylsiloxane or other stamp forming material can be formed. The micro-contact printing stamp can then be exposed to an inking material while the micro-contact printing stamp is still against the submaster, resulting in a micro-contact printing stamp capable of making numerous impressions before the inking material is exhausted.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides rewettable asymmetric membranes and methods of forming rewettable asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for forming rewettable asymmetric membranes having a copolymer and a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate.

Abstract: A method includes unwinding a web material from a support and providing an elastomeric stamp, wherein the stamp includes a base surface and an arrangement of pattern elements extending away from the base surface, and wherein each pattern element has a stamping surface with a lateral dimension of less than about 5 microns and a height with respect to the base surface, and wherein an aspect ratio of the height to the lateral dimension is at least 1.5. The stamping surfaces of the pattern elements are inked with an ink composition including a functionalizing molecule, wherein the functionalizing molecule includes a functional group selected to bind to said substrate material.

Abstract: A system, including a moving web of material unwound from a support and a stamp mounted on a roller, wherein the stamp includes a base surface and a continuous, regular array of pattern elements having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape and extending above the base surface, and wherein the stamping elements each have a substantially planar stamping surface. An inking roller with an inking surface at least periodicially contacts the stamping surface of the stamping elements. The inking surface is impregnated with an ink composition including an organosulfur compound having a thiol functional group selected to bind to a major surface of the web material to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) thereon according to the array of pattern elements on the stamping surface.

Abstract: A method of microcontact printing comprises (a) providing an elastomeric stamp comprising a printing surface inked with an ink comprising surface-functionalizing molecules, (b) treating the inked printing surface of the stamp with solvent, and (c) contacting the treated inked printing surface of the stamp to a surface of a substrate. The printing surface of the stamp comprises a first relief pattern, or the surface of the substrate comprises a second relief pattern, or both of the surfaces comprise the relief patterns, and a pattern of surface-functionalizing molecules is transferred to the substrate according to one or both of the relief patterns.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for microcontact printing are described. The microcontact printing apparatus includes a planar stamp and a pressurized roller. The pressurized roller includes an inflatable bladder that can be inflated by a fluid to a pressure that reduces printing defects such as voids and stamp collapse. A substrate is disposed between the pressurized roller and a stamp coated with an ink of functionalizing molecules. As the pressurized roller moves over the substrate, at least a portion of the functionalizing molecules are transferred from the stamp to the substrate in the desired pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for micro-contact printing on a substrate. A roll having very low drag is supported for rotation by air bearings and has a micro-contact printing stamp mounted to its outer surface. Contact between the substrate and the micro-contact printing stamp drives the roll and repeatedly imprints the pattern onto the web. In convenient embodiments, the roll is a sleeve positioned over a core with the sleeve supported for rotation by a layer of air between the sleeve and the core.

Abstract: A method of preparing a patterned micro-contact printing stamp for micro contact printing including the making of a submaster of e.g. epoxy, against which a micro-contact printing stamp from polydimethylsiloxane or other stamp forming material can be formed. The micro-contact printing stamp can then be exposed to an inking material while the micro-contact printing stamp is still against the submaster, resulting in a micro-contact printing stamp capable of making numerous impressions before the inking material is exhausted.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for micro-contact printing on a substrate. A roll having very low drag is supported for rotation by air bearings and has a micro-contact printing stamp mounted to its outer surface. Contact between the substrate and the micro-contact printing stamp drives the roll and repeatedly imprints the pattern onto the web. In convenient embodiments, the roll is a sleeve positioned over a core with the sleeve supported for rotation by a layer of air between the sleeve and the core.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for microcontact printing are described. The microcontact printing apparatus includes a planar stamp and a pressurized roller. The pressurized roller includes an inflatable bladder that can be inflated by a fluid to a pressure that reduces printing defects such as voids and stamp collapse. A substrate is disposed between the pressurized roller and a stamp coated with an ink of functionalizing molecules. As the pressurized roller moves over the substrate, at least a portion of the functionalizing molecules are transferred from the stamp to the substrate in the desired pattern.

Abstract: A method of microcontact printing comprises (a) providing an elastomeric stamp comprising a printing surface inked with an ink comprising surface-functionalizing molecules, (b) treating the inked printing surface of the stamp with solvent, and (c) contacting the treated inked printing surface of the stamp to a surface of a substrate. The printing surface of the stamp comprises a first relief pattern, or the surface of the substrate comprises a second relief pattern, or both of the surfaces comprise the relief patterns, and a pattern of surface-functionalizing molecules is transferred to the substrate according to one or both of the relief patterns.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides rewettable asymmetric membranes and methods of forming rewettable asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for forming rewettable asymmetric membranes having a copolymer and a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming asymmetric membranes. More specifically, methods are provided for applying a polymerizable species to a porous substrate for forming a coated porous substrate. The coated porous substrate is exposed to an ultraviolet radiation source having a peak emission wavelength less than 340 nm to polymerize the polymerizable species forming a polymerized material retained within the porous substrate so that the concentration of polymerized material is greater at the first major surface than at the second major surface.