Abstract: There are provided a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane that shows good workability in a fuel cell assembling process and good proton conductivity and durability even under high-temperature, non-humidified conditions, a method for production thereof, and a fuel cell therewith. The proton-conducting polymer membrane includes: a polymer membrane containing a polybenzimidazole compound having a sulfonic acid group and/or a phosphonic acid group; and vinylphosphonic acid contained in the polymer membrane. The fuel cell uses the proton-conducting polymer membrane. The polybenzimidazole compound preferably includes a sulfonic and/or phosphonic acid group-containing component represented by Structural Formula (1): wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 4, R1 represents a tetravalent aromatic linking unit capable of forming an imidazole ring, R2 represents a bivalent aromatic linking unit, and Z represents a sulfonic acid group and/or a phosphonic acid group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer excellent in ion conductivity and durability, a method for producing the same, a resin composition containing the sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The sulfonic acid group-containing polymer of the present invention, in a first embodiment, includes a constituent represented by the following chemical formula 1: wherein X represents hydrogen or a monovalent cation species; Y represents a sulfone group or a ketone group; and n represents an arbitrary integer not less than 2.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane including (A) a membrane formation step of forming a membrane-form product of an ionic group-containing polymer electrolyte on a support, (B) an acid treatment step of exchanging the ionic group into an acid type by bringing the membrane into contact with an inorganic acid-containing acidic liquid, (C) an acid removal step of removing a free acid in the acid-treated membrane, and (D) a drying step of drying the acid-removed membrane, wherein the steps (B) to (D) are carried out without separating the membrane from the support.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane is obtained which can give an excellent power generation characteristic when the membrane is applied to, in particular, a fuel cell wherein high-concentration methanol is used as a fuel. In the aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange membrane of the invention, the ion exchange capacity is set into the range of 0.6 to 1.3 meq/g. Moreover, the area swelling rate for a 30% by mass methanol aqueous solution at 40° C. is set into the range of 2 to 30%. Preferably, a sulfonic acid group is bonded to an aromatic ring of the aromatic hydrocarbon based polymer contained in the aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange film. Preferably, the aromatic hydrocarbon based polymer is a polyarylene ether based polymer.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer composition which contains an aromatic hydrocarbon type of proton-conducting polymer in an amount of 1 to 30 mass %, wherein a component of said proton-conducting polymer having a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 230,000 in terms of polyethylene glycol accounts for 10 mass % or more of the total amount of said proton-conducting polymer; a method for preparing the proton-conducting polymer composition, a catalyst ink comprising the proton-conducting polymer composition and a fuel cell including the catalyst ink. The above proton-conducting polymer composition can well exploit the performance capability of a catalyst of a fuel cell, especially when it is allowed to be present with the electrode of a fuel cell.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane is obtained which can give an excellent power generation characteristic when the membrane is applied to, in particular, a fuel cell wherein high-concentration methanol is used as a fuel. In the aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange membrane of the invention, the ion exchange capacity is set into the range of 0.6 to 1.3 meq/g. Moreover, the area swelling rate for a 30% by mass methanol aqueous solution at 40° C. is set into the range of 2 to 30%. Preferably, a sulfonic acid group is bonded to an aromatic ring of the aromatic hydrocarbon based polymer contained in the aromatic hydrocarbon based proton exchange film. Preferably, the aromatic hydrocarbon based polymer is a polyarylene ether based polymer.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a proton exchange membrane for a fuel cell having excellent proton conductivity, lower property of swelling with hot water, and excellent durability, as well as a block copolymer forming the proton exchange membrane, and a composition, a molded product, a fuel cell proton exchange membrane electrode assembly, and a fuel cell.

Abstract: A polyarylene ether-based compound according to the present invention includes polymer components represented in general formula (1) and general formula (2): wherein Ar indicates a divalent aromatic group, Y indicates a sulfone group or a ketone group, X indicates H or a monovalent cation species, and Ar? indicates a divalent aromatic group.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane including (A) a membrane formation step of forming a membrane-form product of an ionic group-containing polymer electrolyte on a support, (B) an acid treatment step of exchanging the ionic group into an acid type by bringing the membrane into contact with an inorganic acid-containing acidic liquid, (C) an acid removal step of removing a free acid in the acid-treated membrane, and (D) a drying step of drying the acid-removed membrane, wherein the steps (B) to (D) are carried out without separating the membrane from the support.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity can be provided by means of an composite ion exchange membrane including an ion exchange resin composition and a support membrane having a continuous pore penetrating the support membrane, wherein the support membrane is one which accepts the ion exchange resin composition within the pore, and wherein the ion exchange resin composition is one which contains an ion exchange resin containing, as a main component, an aromatic polyether and/or its derivative, the aromatic polyether being obtained by mixing a compound having a specific structure, an aromatic dihalogenated compound and a bisphenol compound with a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate of an alkali metal and polymerizing the mixture in an organic solvent.

Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer composition which contains an aromatic hydrocarbon type of proton-conducting polymer in an amount of 1 to 30 mass %, wherein a component of said proton-conducting polymer having a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 230,000 in terms of polyethylene glycol accounts for 10 mass % or more of the total amount of said proton-conducting polymer; a method for preparing the proton-conducting polymer composition, a catalyst ink comprising the proton-conducting polymer composition and a fuel cell including the catalyst ink. The above proton-conducting polymer composition can well exploit the performance capability of a catalyst of a fuel cell, especially when it is allowed to be present with the electrode of a fuel cell.

Abstract: There are provided a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane that shows good workability in a fuel cell assembling process and good proton conductivity and durability even under high-temperature, non-humidified conditions, a method for production thereof, and a fuel cell therewith. The proton-conducting polymer membrane includes: a polymer membrane containing a polybenzimidazole compound having a sulfonic acid group and/or a phosphonic acid group; and vinylphosphonic acid contained in the polymer membrane. The fuel cell uses the proton-conducting polymer membrane. The polybenzimidazole compound preferably includes a sulfonic and/or phosphonic acid group-containing component represented by Structural Formula (1): wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 4, R1 represents a tetravalent aromatic linking unit capable of forming an imidazole ring, R2 represents a bivalent aromatic linking unit, and Z represents a sulfonic acid group and/or a phosphonic acid group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite ion exchange membrane which has high mechanical strength and is suitable for use as a solid polymer electrolyte membrane excellent in ionic conductivity and a method for its production. The invention is achieved by a composite ion exchange membrane including a composite layer comprising a support membrane with continuous voids formed of polybenzazole polymer, the support membrane being impregnated with ion exchange resin, and surface layers formed of ion exchange resin free of support membranes, the surface layers being formed on both surfaces of the composite layer so as to sandwich the composite layer therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer excellent in ion conductivity and durability, a method for producing the same, a resin composition containing the sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a polymer electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly, and a fuel cell. The sulfonic acid group-containing polymer of the present invention, in a first embodiment, includes a constituent represented by the following chemical formula 1: wherein X represents hydrogen or a monovalent cation species; Y represents a sulfone group or a ketone group; and n represents an arbitrary integer not less than 2.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly wherein a hydrocarbon-based solid polymer electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. In this electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly, the glass transition temperature of the electrolyte membrane in a dry state is not less than 160° C. and the maximum moisture content of the electrolyte membrane is 10-120%. By using such a hydrocarbon-based solid polymer electrolyte membrane, there can be obtained an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly which is excellent in reliability and durability. Also disclosed are a fuel cell using such an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and a method for producing such an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a novel polymeric material capable of forming a solid polymer electrolyte excellent not only in processability, solvent resistance and durability/stability but also in ion conductivity by introducing sulfonic acid group or phosphonic acid group into a polybenzazole compound having excellent properties in view of heat resistance, solvent resistance, mechanical characteristics and the like. Means attaining the object of the present invention is a polybenzazole compound including an aromatic dicarboxylic acid bond unit having sulfonic acid group and/or phosphonic acid group and satisfying either a condition that inherent viscosity measured in concentrated sulfuric acid is in the range of 0.25 to 10 dl/g or a condition that inherent viscosity measured in a methanesulfonic acid solution is in the range of 0.1 to 50 dl/g.

Abstract: A composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity can be provided by means of an composite ion exchange membrane including an ion exchange resin composition and a support membrane having a continuous pore penetrating the support membrane, wherein the support membrane is one which accepts the ion exchange resin composition within the pore, and wherein the ion exchange resin composition is one which contains an ion exchange resin containing, as a main component, an aromatic polyether and/or its derivative, the aromatic polyether being obtained by mixing a compound having a specific structure, an aromatic dihalogenated compound and a bisphenol compound with a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate of an alkali metal and polymerizing the mixture in an organic solvent.

Abstract: A polyarylene ether-based compound according to the present invention includes polymer components represented in general formula (1) and general formula (2): wherein Ar indicates a divalent aromatic group, Y indicates a sulfone group or a ketone group, X indicates H or a monovalent cation species, and Ar? indicates a divalent aromatic group.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat-resistant film comprising at least any one of a polybenzazole, aramid and polyamideimide produced by introducing a thin film made by a roll, slit or press from a polymer solution sandwiched between at least two supports into a coagulating bath and peeling the supports off in the coagulating bath to effect the coagulation, and a composite ion-exchange membrane having a surface layer consisting of an ion-exchange resin excluding a porous film on the both side of a composite layer formed by impregnating said film with the ion-exchange resin. A heat-resistant film having a combination of excellent heat resistance, mechanical strength, smoothness and interlaminar peeling resistance, especially a microporous heat-resistant film, and a composite ion-exchange membrane employing the same which has an excellent ion conductivity are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite ion exchange membrane which has high mechanical strength and is suitable for use as a solid polymer electrolyte membrane excellent in ionic conductivity and a method for its production. The invention is achieved by a composite ion exchange membrane including a composite layer comprising a support membrane with continuous voids formed of polybenzazole polymer, the support membrane being impregnated with ion exchange resin, and surface layers formed of ion exchange resin free of support membranes, the surface layers being formed on both surfaces of the composite layer so as to sandwich the composite layer therebetween.