Embodiments of the invention relate to a novel class of polymers with superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, as compared to known polymers. These polymers are particularly well suited for use in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), including those employed in fuel cells. Novel methods for the manufacture of these polymers are also described.

An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoroMethyl Ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 BiPhenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.

An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoroMethyl Ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 BiPhenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a novel class of polymers with superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, as compared to known polymers. These polymers are particularly well suited for use in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), including those employed in fuel cells. Novel methods for the manufacture of these polymers are also described.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a novel class of polymers with superior mechanical properties and chemical stability, as compared to known polymers. These polymers are particularly well suited for use in anion exchange membranes (AEMs), including those employed in fuel cells. Novel methods for the manufacture of these polymers are also described.

An anion exchange polymer includes aryl ether linkage free polyarylenes having aromatic/polyaromatic rings in polymer backbone and a tethered alkyl quaternary ammonium hydroxide side groups. This anion exchange polymer may be utilized in an anion exchange process and may be made into a thin anion transfer membrane. An ion transfer membrane may be mechanically reinforced having one or more layers of functional polymer based on a terphenyl backbone with quaternary ammonium functional groups and an inert porous scaffold material for reinforcement. An anion exchange membrane may have multilayers of anion exchange polymers which each containing varying types of backbones, varying degrees of functionalization, or varying functional groups to reduce ammonia crossover through the membrane.

The invention is a method comprising (a) providing a substrate having at least one recessed feature characterized by a width of less than about 0.3 microns and an aspect ratio of 5 or higher, (b) coating onto the substrate a composition comprising (i) a curable polymeric material, (ii) a thermally deactivatable gap-filling aid, and (iii) at least one solvent, (c) drying the coated substrate to remove the solvent, leaving a composition of cross-linkable polymeric material and gap-filling aid substantially filling the recessed feature, and (d) heating the coated substrate to cure the polymeric material and to de-activate the gap-filling aid, wherein the cured material has a glass transition temperature of no less than 300° C. and, preferably, a thermal stability temperature of at least 300° C.

The invention is a method comprising (a) providing a substrate having at least one recessed feature characterized by a width of less than about 0.3 microns and an aspect ratio of 5 or higher, (b) coating onto the substrate a composition comprising (i) a curable polymeric material, (ii) a thermally deactivatable gap-filling aid, and (iii) at least one solvent, (c) drying the coated substrate to remove the solvent, leaving a composition of cross-linkable polymeric material and gap-filling aid substantially filling the recessed feature, and (d) heating the coated substrate to cure the polymeric material and to de-activate the gap-filling aid, wherein the cured material has a glass transition temperature of no less than 300° C. and, preferably, a thermal stability temperature of at least 300° C.

A resist underlayer film-forming composition formed into a flat film which can exhibit high etching resistance, a good dry etching velocity ratio and a good optical constant, has a good covering property even against a so-called step-structure substrate, and has a small film thickness difference after being embedded. Also, a method for producing a polymer suitable for the resist underlayer film-forming composition; a resist underlayer film using the resist underlayer film-forming composition; and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a reaction product of an aromatic compound having 6 to 60 carbon atoms with a carbonyl group in a cyclic carbonyl compound having 3 to 60 carbon atoms and a solvent, wherein the reaction product has such a structure that one of the carbon atoms in the cyclic carbonyl compound links two molecules of the aromatic compound to each other.

A resist underlayer film-forming composition formed into a flat film which can exhibit high etching resistance, a good dry etching velocity ratio and a good optical constant, has a good covering property even against a so-called step-structure substrate, and has a small film thickness difference after being embedded. Also, a method for producing a polymer suitable for the resist underlayer film-forming composition; a resist underlayer film using the resist underlayer film-forming composition; and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A resist underlayer film-forming composition containing a reaction product of an aromatic compound having 6 to 60 carbon atoms with a carbonyl group in a cyclic carbonyl compound having 3 to 60 carbon atoms and a solvent, wherein the reaction product has such a structure that one of the carbon atoms in the cyclic carbonyl compound links two molecules of the aromatic compound to each other.