Abstract: Electrode structures and electrochemical cells, including lithium-sulfur electrochemical cells, are provided. The electrode structures and/or electrochemical cells described herein may include one or more protective layers comprising a polymer layer and/or a gel polymer electrolyte layer. Methods for making electrode structures including such components are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cells with long lifetime, comprising two electrochemically active electrodes separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane based on polyoxazoles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved membrane electrode assemblies and fuel cells with long lifetime, comprising two electrochemically active electrodes separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane based on polybenzoxazole-polybenzimidazole block polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrode materials for charged electrical cells, comprising at least one polymer comprising polysulfide bridges, and carbon in a polymorph comprising at least 60% sp2-hybridized carbon atoms. The present invention further relates to electrical cells comprising the inventive electrode material, to specific polymers comprising polysulfide bridges, to processes for preparation thereof and to the use of the inventive cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite materials comprising a reaction product of (A) at least one organic polymer, (B) sulfur, (C) carbon in a polymorph which comprises at least 60% sp2-hybridized carbon atoms, and (D) 2-20% by weight of a perfluorinated or partly fluorinated polymer, based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and (C) used before reaction, and also to a process for producing inventive composite materials and to the use of inventive composite materials.

Abstract: Electrochemical cell comprising (A) at least one anode as component (A), (B) at least one cathode as component (B), (C) at least one non-aqueous electrolyte as component (C), (D) at least one separator positioned between anode (A) and cathode (B), as component (D), characterized in that separator (D) is manufactured from at least one polyimide selected from reaction products of (a) at least one polyimide selected from condensation products of (?) at least one polyisocyanate having on average at least two isocyanate groups per molecule and (?) at least one polycarboxylic acid having at least 3 COOH groups per molecule or an anhydride or ester thereof, and (b) at least one diol or triol, and subsequently optionally reacted with (c) at least one polyisocyanate having on average at least two isocyanate groups per molecule.

Abstract: Polymers for use as protective layers and other components in electrochemical cells are provided. In some embodiments, the electrochemical cell is a lithium-based electrochemical cell.

Abstract: Proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane based on a polyazole salt of an inorganic or organic acid which is doped with an acid as electrolyte, wherein the polyazole salt of the organic or inorganic acid has a lower solubility in the acid used as electrolyte than the polyazole salt of the acid used as electrolyte, a process for producing the inventive proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane-electrode assembly comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes which are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane is a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane according to the invention, and a fuel cell comprising at least one membrane-electrode assembly according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for preparing mechanically stabilized polyazoles, comprising the following steps: I) treating at least one polyazole having at least one amino group in a repeat unit with a solution comprising (i) at least one strong acid and (ii) at least one stabilizing reagent, the total content of stabilizing reagents in the solution being in the range from 0.01 to 30% by weight, II) performing the stabilization reaction directly and/or in a subsequent processing step by heating to a temperature greater than 25° C., the stabilizing reagent used being at least one polyvinyl alcohol. The polyazoles thus obtainable are notable especially for a high conductivity and a very good mechanical stability. They are therefore especially suitable for applications in fuel cells.

Abstract: A method for the production of a mechanically stabilized polyazole polymer membrane or film having the following steps: a) providing a membrane or film containing i.) a polyazole with at least one amino group in a repeating unit except the ones obtained by reacting aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, ii.) at least one strong acid and iii.) at least one stabilizing reagent, the total content of stabilizing reagents in the membrane or film being within the range of from 0.01 to 30% by weight, b) performing the stabilization reaction in the membrane, immediately or in a subsequent processing step of the membrane, c) optionally doping the membrane obtained in accordance with step b) with a strong acid or concentrating the present strong acid by removal of present water, wherein the stabilizing reagent contains at least one oxazine-based compound and wherein the polyazole polymer has at least 1.8 dl/g intrinsic viscosity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to separators for electrochemical cells comprising (A) at least one layer comprising (a) crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone in the form of particles, (b) at least one binder, and (c) optionally a base structure, where the mass ratio of the crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone in the form of particles (a) to the sum of the mass of the binders (b) in the layer (A) has a value in the range from 99.9:0.1 to 50:50. The present invention further relates to the use of inventive separators and to apparatuses, especially electrochemical cells, comprising inventive separators.

Abstract: An electrode structure and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The disclosed electrode structures may be manufactured by depositing a first release layer on a first carrier substrate. A first protective layer may be deposited on a surface of the first release layer and a first electroactive material layer may then be deposited on the first protective layer.

Abstract: Electrode structures and electrochemical cells, including lithium-sulfur electrochemical cells, are provided. The electrode structures and/or electrochemical cells described herein may include one or more protective layers comprising a polymer layer and/or a gel polymer electrolyte layer. Methods for making electrode structures including such components are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane electrode assembly comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes separated by at least one polymer electrolyte membrane, the aforementioned polymer electrolyte membrane having fibrous reinforcing elements which at least partly penetrate the polymer electrolyte membrane, wherein at least some of the fibrous reinforcing elements have functional groups which have a covalent chemical bond between the fibers and the polymer of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The membrane electrode assembly is suitable for applications in fuel cells, especially in high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a composite material composed of at least one inorganic or organometallic phase and one organic polymer phase with aromatic or heteroaromatic structural units, wherein homo- or copolymerization of the monomers of the formula I is performed in the presence of a base selected from organic nitrogen bases and inorganic or organic oxo bases and fluoride salts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sulfur-carbon composite materials comprising (A) at least one carbon composite material comprising (a) a carbonization product of at least one carbonaceous starting material, incorporating (aa) particles of at least one electrically conductive additive, the particles having an aspect ratio of at least 10, and (B) elemental sulfur. In addition, the present invention also relates to a process for producing inventive sulfur-carbon composite materials, to cathode materials for electrochemical cells comprising inventive sulfur-carbon composite materials, to corresponding electrochemical cells and to the use of carbon composite materials for production of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing composite materials formed from a) at least one inorganic or organometallic phase; and b) at least one organic polymer phase with aromatic or heteroaromatic structural units; comprising the homo- or copolymerization of at least one monomer of the formula I in which M is a metal or semimetal; R1, R2 may be the same or different and are each an Ar—C(Ra,Rb)— radical in which Ar is as defined in claim 1, or the R1Q and R2G radicals together are a radical of the formula A in which A is an aromatic or heteroaromatic ring fused to the double bond, m is 0, 1 or 2, and the R radicals may be the same or different and are as defined in claim 1; G, Q are each O, S or NH; Q is O, S or NH; and in which q, X, Y, R1?, R2? are each as defined in claim 1; which comprises performing the polymerization of the monomers of the general formula I thermally in the absence or substantial absence of added catalysts.

Abstract: A layer system for electrochemical cells comprising at least one fibrous nonwoven fabric (A) formed by fibers of one or more organic polymers or mixtures of organic polymers (A1) wherein (i) the fibrous nonwoven fabric (A) contains a polymer electrolyte (C) comprising (C1) an electrolyte solvent or a mixture of electrolyte solvents, (C2) at least one electrolyte salt, and (C3) at least one organic polymer or polymer mixture, and/or (ii) a second fibrous nonwoven fabric (B) formed by fibers of one or more organic polymers or mixtures of organic polymers (B1) is aligned parallel to (A), wherein (B) may contain a polymer electrolyte (D) comprising (D1) an electrolyte solvent or a mixture of electrolyte solvents, (D2) at least one electrolyte salt, and (D3) at least one organic polymer or polymer mixture.

Abstract: A composite material suitable for an inexpensive cathode material for a lithium-sulfur cell. The composite material is obtained by thermally treating a mixture, wherein the mixture comprises: (A) a fluorinated polymer and (B) carbon in a polymorph containing at least 60% sp2-hybridized carbon atoms; or (A) a fluorinated polymer and (C) a sulfur-containing component; or (A) a fluorinated polymer, (B) carbon in a polymorph containing at least 60% sp2-hybridized carbon atoms, and (C) a sulfur-containing component, in which the proportion of the sum of the proportions by weight of starting components (A) and (B), (A) and (C), or (A), (B), and (C) in the respective mixture prior to the thermal treatment, based on the total weight of the mixture, is 90 to 100% by weight, and wherein the thermal treatment of the mixture containing the above starting components is performed at a temperature of at least 115° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to separators for electrochemical cells comprising (A) at least one layer comprising (a) crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone in the form of particles, (b) at least one binder, and (c) optionally a base structure, where the mass ratio of the crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone in the form of particles (a) to the sum of the mass of the binders (b) in the layer (A) has a value in the range from 99.9:0.1 to 50:50. The present invention further relates to the use of inventive separators and to apparatuses, especially electrochemical cells, comprising inventive separators.