Abstract: Multi-acid polymers are produced having the formula R—SO2—NH—R?—(SO3H)n and made from a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form The R is one or more units of the polymer precursor without sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride, R? is the portion of the amino sulfonic acid without the SO3H and NH, n is one or more, and the multi-acid polymer has two or more proton conducting groups. A method of making the multi-acid polymers includes reacting an amino acid having multiple sulfonic acids with a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form in a mild base condition to produce the multi-acid polymer having two or more proton conducting groups.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer provided on a surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The catalyst layer comprises catalyst particles and an ionomer film surrounding each of the catalyst particles. The ionomer film has an oxygen permeability of approximately 6.0×1012 mol/cm/s to 15.0×1012 mol/cm/s at 80° C. and a relative humidity of approximately 30% to 100%.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical device has a current collector, an electrolyte layer, and an active material layer between the current collector and the electrolyte layer comprising active material. The active material layer has a first sub-layer in contact with the electrolyte layer, the first sub-layer having only an electronically conductive polymer binder as a binder material; a second sub-layer in contact with the current collector, the second sub-layer having only an ionically conductive polymer binder as the binder material; and a mid-layer between the first sub-layer and the second sub-layer.

Abstract: Multi-acid polymers are produced having the formula R—SO2—NH—(SO3?H+)n or R—SO2—NH—(PO3?H2+)n and made from a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form The R is one or more units of the polymer precursor without sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride, n is one or more, and the multi-acid polymer has two or more proton conducting groups. A method of making the multi-acid polymers includes reacting an amino acid having multiple sulfonic acids or phosphonic acids with a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form in a mild base condition to produce the multi-acid polymer having two or more proton conducting groups.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical device has a current collector, an electrolyte layer, and an active material layer between the current collector and the electrolyte layer comprising active material. The active material layer has a first sub-layer in contact with the electrolyte layer, the first sub-layer having only an electronically conductive polymer binder as a binder material; a second sub-layer in contact with the current collector, the second sub-layer having only an ionically conductive polymer binder as the binder material; and a mid-layer between the first sub-layer and the second sub-layer.

Abstract: An ion conducting and electron conducting polymer is comprised of a first polymer of a single-sulfonic acid polymer or a multi-sulfonic acid polymer and a second polymer of an EDOT analog monomer having the following formula: wherein z=O or S; Y2=—COH, —C6H13, or —COOH; a=0 or 1; Y3=—CH3, —C2H5, —CH2C6H6, —C6H13, —C8H17, —CH2OC6H13, or —CH2OC6H6; and b=0 or 1; wherein a sulfonic acid group of each branch of the first polymer electronically interacts with one or more thiophene rings of the second polymer; and wherein any remaining sulfonic acid groups on each branch of the first polymer are converted to SO3Li.

Abstract: An ion conducting and electron conducting polymer is comprised of a first polymer of a single-sulfonic acid polymer or a multi-sulfonic acid polymer and a second polymer of an EDOT analog monomer having the following formula: wherein z=O or S; Y2=—COH, —C6H13, or —COOH; a=0 or 1; Y3=—CH3, —C2H5, —CH2C6H6, —C6H13, —C8H17, —CH2OC6H13, or —CH2OC6H6; and b=0 or 1; wherein a sulfonic acid group of each branch of the first polymer electronically interacts with one or more thiophene rings of the second polymer; and wherein any remaining sulfonic acid groups on each branch of the first polymer are converted to SO3Li.

Abstract: An oxygen permeable polymer has the following formula: wherein RS is a non-sulfonyl halide portion of a sulfonyl halide monomer or polymer; XP is —NH or —NHCO; A is an optionally substituted alkyl; L is 0, 1 or 2; m is 2 or 3; Z is H or CH3; and n is 5-m. The polymer can be used in air separation devices, air concentrators, and in electrodes for electrochemical devices.

Abstract: An oxygen permeable polymer has the following formula: wherein RS is a non-sulfonyl halide portion of a sulfonyl halide monomer or polymer; XP is —NH or —NHCO; A is an optionally substituted alkyl; L is 0, 1 or 2; m is 2 or 3; Z is H or CH3; and n is 5?m. The polymer can be used in air separation devices, air concentrators, and in electrodes for electrochemical devices.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell has a segmented membrane including a porous support having a surface area, the surface area divided into a first portion and a second portion. An alkaline segment is formed from the first portion of the porous support imbibed with an alkaline ionomer. An acid segment is formed from the second portion of the porous support imbibed with an acid ionomer. The alkaline segment is sized to provide a humidification amount to a feed gas passing through the acid segment.

Abstract: Multi-acid polymers are produced having the formula R—SO2—NH—R?—(SO3H)n and made from a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form The R is one or more units of the polymer precursor without sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride, R? is the portion of the amino sulfonic acid without the SO3H and NH, n is one or more, and the multi-acid polymer has two or more proton conducting groups. A method of making the multi-acid polymers includes reacting an amino acid having multiple sulfonic acids with a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form in a mild base condition to produce the multi-acid polymer having two or more proton conducting groups.

Abstract: Multi-acid polymers are produced having the formula R—SO2—NH—R?—(SO3H)n and made from a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form The R is one or more units of the polymer precursor without sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride, R? is the portion of the amino sulfonic acid without the SO3H and NH, n is one or more, and the multi-acid polymer has two or more proton conducting groups. A method of making the multi-acid polymers includes reacting an amino acid having multiple sulfonic acids with a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form in a mild base condition to produce the multi-acid polymer having two or more proton conducting groups.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly is provided that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer provided on a surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The catalyst layer comprises catalyst particles and an ionomer film surrounding each of the catalyst particles. The ionomer film has an oxygen permeability of approximately 6.0×1012 mol/cm/s to 15.0×1012 mol/cm/s at 80° C. and a relative humidity of approximately 30% to 100%.

Abstract: Multi-acid polymers for use as a fuel cell membrane, for example, have multi-acid monomers that have an imide base and more than two proton conducting groups. The multi-acid polymers are made by reacting a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form with a compound with an acid giving group. One example of a multi-acid polymer is: wherein R is one or more units of a non-SO2F or non-SO2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell has a segmented membrane including a porous support having a surface area, the surface area divided into a first portion and a second portion. An alkaline segment is formed from the first portion of the porous support imbibed with an alkaline ionomer. An acid segment is formed from the second portion of the porous support imbibed with an acid ionomer. The alkaline segment is sized to provide a humidification amount to a feed gas passing through the acid segment.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for charging a lithium sulfur (Li—S) battery. The Li—S battery has at least one unit cell comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method provides controlled application of voltage pulses at the beginning of the charging process. An application period is initiated after a discharge cycle of the Li—S battery is complete. During the application period, voltage pulses are provided to the Li—S battery. The voltage pulses are less than a constant current charging voltage. Constant current charging is initiated after the application period has elapsed.

Abstract: A multi-acid monomer disclosed herein has the formula wherein R is one or more units of a non-SO2F or non-SO2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form, X is a non-sulfonyl halide group of a multi-sulfonyl halide compound having a minimum of two acid giving groups, and Y is remaining sulfonyl halide groups of the multi-sulfonyl halide compound.

Abstract: Multi-acid polymers are produced having the formula R—SO2—NH—(SO3?H+)n or R—SO2—NH—(PO3?H2+)n and made from a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form The R is one or more units of the polymer precursor without sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride, n is one or more, and the multi-acid polymer has two or more proton conducting groups. A method of making the multi-acid polymers includes reacting an amino acid having multiple sulfonic acids or phosphonic acids with a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form in a mild base condition to produce the multi-acid polymer having two or more proton conducting groups.

Abstract: Multi-acid polymers are produced having the formula R—SO2—NH—(SO3?H+)n or R—SO2—NH—(PO3?H2+)n and made from a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form The R is one or more units of the polymer precursor without sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride, n is one or more, and the multi-acid polymer has two or more proton conducting groups. A method of making the multi-acid polymers includes reacting an amino acid having multiple sulfonic acids or phosphonic acids with a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride form or sulfonyl chloride form in a mild base condition to produce the multi-acid polymer having two or more proton conducting groups.

Abstract: A multi-acid polymer has a multi-acid monomer with the following formula: wherein R is one or more units of a non-SOF2 or non-SO2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form. Another multi-acid polymer has a multi-acid monomer with the following formula: wherein R is one or more units of a non-SOF2 or non-SO2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form.