Abstract: To provide a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer having improved hot water resistance and radical resistance (durability), a solid polymer electrolyte including the polymer, and a proton-conducting membrane including the electrolyte, the polymer electrolyte includes a sulfonated product of a polymer shown by the following general formula (I): 1

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 and a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 held between the electrode catalyst layers 1, 1. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is a sulfonation product of a polymer, which comprises a main chain, wherein two or more divalent aromatic residues are bound to one another directly or through oxy groups or divalent groups other than aromatic residues, and side chains comprising aromatic groups to be sulfonated. Provided that the number of divalent aromatic residues comprised in the main chain of the above polymer is denoted by X, and the number of oxy groups comprised in the main chain of the above polymer is denoted by Y, the value X/Y is within the range of from 2.0 to 9.0.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode structure for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, inexpensive, and exhibiting excellent power production capacity and durability even under high temperature/low humidity conditions, and also provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell which incorporates the same electrode structure. The present invention also provides an electrical device and transportation device, each incorporating the same polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure comprises a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1,1, each containing a catalyst supported by carbon particles, and polymer electrolyte membrane 2 placed between these electrode catalyst layers 1,1. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is of a sulfonated polyarylene composed of 0.5 to 100% by mol of the first repeating unit represented by the general formula (1) and 0 to 99.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode structure having a pair of electrode catalyst layers and a polymer electrolyte membrane held between both the electrode catalyst layers. The polymer electrolyte membrane contains 5% or more by weight of the water coordinated to protons of sulfonic acid groups. The polymer electrolyte membrane comprises a fluorine-containing ion conducting polymer. The ratio of the fluorine content in the above polymer electrolyte membrane to the fluorine content in the above electrode catalyst layer is within the range of from 0.2 to 2.0. The polymer electrolyte membrane is a sulfonate of a copolymer general formulas (1) and (2). The electrode catalyst layer contains platinum within the range of from 0.01 to 0.8 mg/cm2, and the average particle diameter of a carbon particle as a carrier is within the range of from 10 to 100 nm. The polymer electrolyte membrane is produced by forming a membrane from the above sulfonate solution and drying the obtained membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte having improved hot water resistance and radical resistance, a proton conductive membrane comprising the polymer electrolyte, and a membrane-electrode assembly including the proton conductive membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides a proton conductive membrane excellent in heat resistance, which has sulfonic acid as ion exchange groups.

Abstract: Described herein is a production method of sulfonated polyarylene that is safe and enables easy control of the amount and position of sulfonic groups introduced in the polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene is also disclosed. The invention further provides a polyarylene and an aromatic sulfonate derivative that are suitably employed in the above production method. Also provided are a macromolecular solid electrolyte that comprises the sulfonated polyarylene, and a proton conductive membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which is inexpensive and has an excellent efficiency of generating electric power, by using a material alternative to a perfluoroalkylene sulfonic acid polymer. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a pair of electrodes (2, 3) consisting of an oxygen electrode (2) and a fuel electrode (3) both having a catalyst layer (5) containing a catalyst and an ion conducting material; and a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) sandwiched between the two catalyst layers (5) of the both electrodes (2, 3).

Abstract: There is provided an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent power generation performance and excellent durability and a method for manufacturing the same. Also provided is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the electrode structure and an electrical apparatus and a transport apparatus using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 containing carbon particles supporting catalyst particles. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is made of a sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer has an ion exchange capacity in the range of 1.7 to 2.3 meq/g, and the polymer contains a component insoluble in N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount of 70% or less relative to the total amount of the polymer, after the polymer is subjected to heat treatment for exposing it under a constant temperature atmosphere of 120° C. for 200 hours.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which comprises: a pair of electrodes 2 and 3 both having a catalyst layer 5, where catalyst particles consisting of a catalyst carrier and a catalyst supported by the carrier are integrated by an ion-conductive polymer binder; and a polymer electrolyte membrane 1 sandwiched between the electrodes 2 and 3 on their sides having the catalyst layer 5. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises: the polymer electrolyte membrane 1 having a coefficient of dynamic viscoelasticity at 110° C. in a range of 1×109 to 1×1011 Pa; and the catalyst layer 5 made of the ion-conductive polymer binder having a coefficient of dynamic viscoelasticity at 110° C. smaller than the polymer electrolyte membrane 1. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell further comprises a buffer layer 6, comprising an ion-conductive material having a coefficient of dynamic viscoelasticity at 110° C.

Abstract: An membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell composed of a pair of electrode catalyst layers and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrode catalyst layers is configured so that the catalyst of at least one surface of the electrode catalyst layers enters in the electrolyte membrane whereby the electrode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane are unified with each other. In this configuration, no exfoliation occurs at the interface between the electrode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane, and the durability of the membrane electrode assembly can be increased even during the course of heat cycles.

Abstract: The invention provides a proton conductive resin composition from which proton conductive membranes exhibiting high proton conductivity can be obtained without treatment to increase the acid concentration in the membrane. The invention also provides a method for preparing the composition, and a proton conductive membrane comprising the composition.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide A process for producing an electrolyte membrane-bonded electrode having excellent power generation properties property when constitutes in an electrode assembly, and a varnish composition for an electrolyte, by the use of which to obtain an electrolyte membrane-electrode bonded structure capable of retaining excellent power generation properties. is obtaned. A process for producing a first electrolyte membrane bonded electrode comprises applying, onto an electrode, a water containing dispersion containing a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer, an organic solvent A and water and having a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer content of 0.

Abstract: According to a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly having an excellent electric power generating capability, a base 11 is coated with a first polymer electrolytic solution 12 to form a first polymer electrolytic membrane 12a which is undried. The undried first polymer electrolytic membrane 12a is coated with a first electrode dispersion 13, which comprises a second polymer electrolytic solution and a catalyst carried on a catalyst carrier and dissolved therein. The first electrode dispersion 13 is dried to form a first electrode 2a, thereby forming a positive-electrode membrane electrode assembly 14a. Another base 11 is coated with a third polymer electrolytic solution 12 to form a second polymer electrolytic membrane 12b which is undried. The undried second polymer electrolytic membrane 12b is coated with a second electrode dispersion 13, which comprises a fourth polymer electrolytic solution and a catalyst carried on a catalyst carrier and dissolved therein.

Abstract: A solid polymer fuel cell (1) has an electrolyte membrane (2), and an air electrode (3) and a fuel electrode (4) that closely contact to opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane (2) respectively. The electrolyte membrane (2) has a membrane core (9) comprising a polymer ion-exchange component, and a plurality of phyllosilicate particles (10) that disperse in the membrane core (9) and are subjected to ion-exchange processing between metal ions and protons, and proton conductance Pc satisfies Pc>0.05 S/cm. Owing to this, it is possible to provide the solid polymer fuel cell equipped with the electrolyte membrane (2) that has excellent high-temperature strength and can improve power-generating performance.

Abstract: A composite polymer electrolyte membrane is formed from a first polymer electrolyte comprising a sulfonated polyarylene polymer and a second polymer electrolyte comprising another hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte. In the first polymer electrolyte, 2-70 mol % constitutes an aromatic compound unit with an electron-attractive group in its principal chain, while 30-98 mol % constitutes an aromatic compound unit without an electron-attractive group in its principal chain. The second polymer electrolyte is a sulfonated polyether or sulfonated polysulfide polymer electrolyte. The composite polymer electrolyte membrane is formed from a matrix comprising the first polymer electrolyte selected from among sulfonated polyarylene polymers and having an ion exchange capacity in excess of 1.5 meq/g but less than 3.0 meq/g, which is supported on a reinforcement comprising the second polymer electrolyte having an ion exchange capacity in excess of 0.5 meq/g but less than 1.5 meq/g.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane obtained by subjecting a sulfonated polyarylene membrane having an initial water content of 80-300 weight % to a hot-water treatment. A composite polymer electrolyte membrane comprising a matrix made of a first sulfonated aromatic polymer having a high ion exchange capacity, and a reinforcing material constituted by a second sulfonated aromatic polymer having a low ion exchange capacity in the form of fibers or a porous membrane.

Abstract: An membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell composed of a pair of electrode catalyst layers and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the electrode catalyst layers is configured so that the catalyst of at least one surface of the electrode catalyst layers enters in the electrolyte membrane whereby the electrode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane are unified with each other. In this configuration, no exfoliation occurs at the interface between the electrode catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane, and the durability of the membrane electrode assembly can be increased even during the course of heat cycles.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly 9 of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane 2, and an air pole 3 and a fuel pole 4 provided to sandwich the electrolyte membrane 2 therebetween. Each of the electrolyte membrane, the air pole and the fuel pole includes a polymer ion-exchange component. The electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly has an ion-exchange capacity Ic in a range of 0.9 meq/g≦Ic≦5 meq/g, and a dynamic viscoelastic modulus at 85° C. in a range of 5×108 Pa≦Dv≦1×1010 Pa. In the electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly 9, a high power-generating performance can be maintained at an operating temperature not lower than 85° C.