A photoresist composition includes a photosensitive polymer including a polymer chain and at least one first functional group coupled to the polymer chain, and a photoacid generator. The first functional group has a structure represented by the following Chemical Formula 1,

##STR00001##

where R.sub.1 is one of an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 20 and an aryl group having a carbon number of 1 to 20, and R.sub.2 is one of H, F, Cl, Br, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 20, and an aryl group having a carbon number of 1 to 20.

The invention provides a redox flow battery comprising a microporous or nanoporous size-exclusion membrane, wherein one cell of the battery contains a redox-active polymer dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent or a redox-active colloidal particle dispersed in the non-aqueous solvent. The redox flow battery provides enhanced ionic conductivity across the electrolyte separator and reduced redox-active species crossover, thereby improving the performance and enabling widespread utilization. Redox active poly(vinylbenzyl ethylviologen) (RAPs) and redox active colloidal particles (RACs) were prepared and were found to be highly effective redox species. Controlled potential bulk electrolysis indicates that 94-99% of the nominal charge on different RAPs is accessible and the electrolysis products are stable upon cycling. The high concentration attainable (>2.0 M) for RAPs in common non-aqueous battery solvents, their electrochemical and chemical reversibility, and their hindered transport across porous separators make them attractive materials for non-aqueous redox flow batteries based on size-selectivity.

Tracing subterranean fluid flow includes providing a first polymeric tracer to a first injector, collecting a first aqueous sample from a first producer, and assessing the presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample. The first polymeric tracer includes a first polymer formed from at least a first monomer. The presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample is assessed by removing water from the first aqueous sample to yield a first dehydrated sample. pyrolyzing the first dehydrated sample to yield a first gaseous sample, and assessing the presence of a pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample. The presence of the pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample is indicative of the presence of a first subterranean flow pathway between the first injector location and the first producer location.

The present invention includes novel polycationic amphiphilic compounds useful as antimicrobial agents. The present invention further includes novel polymers of polycationic amphiphilic compounds useful as antimicrobial agents. The present invention further includes methods useful for removing microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms from a surface. The present invention further includes compositions and methods useful for preventing or reducing the growth or proliferation of microorganisms and/or biofilm-embedded microorganisms on a surface.

Disclosed are fluoropolymers with low CWST values and porous membranes made from the fluoropolymers. The fluoropolymer is made up of polymerized monomeric units of the formula A-XCH.sub.2B, wherein A is C.sub.6F.sub.13(CH.sub.2).sub.2, X is O or S, and B is vinylphenyl, and the fluoropolymer has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 100 Kd and/or a glass transition temperature of at least 33 C. copolymer. The porous membranes are suitable for degassing a variety of fluids.

Disclosed is an optical compensation film made of a solution cast of a polymer blend comprising a nitrated styrenic fluoropolymer and a polyimide. The compensation film is a positive-C plate having reversed wavelength dispersion that is capable of providing an achromatic (or broadband) retardation compensation. The optical film of the invention can be used in an optical device such as liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

Disclosed are processes for preparing a copolymer, a copolymer prepared by the process, a sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture, and the use of the sulfur-crosslinkable rubber mixture for production of motor vehicle tires. In one embodiment, the monomer has the formula: A-SP, wherein A is a chemical group containing at least one aliphatic double bond, S is a sulfur atom, and P is a protecting group.

An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a resin (A) containing a repeating unit represented by General Formula (4) and a crosslinking agent (C) containing a polar group, in which the crosslinking agent (C) is a compound represented by General Formula (1) or a compound in which two to five structures represented by General Formula (1) are connected via a linking group or a single bond represented by L.sub.1 in General Formula (3). ##STR00001##

Provided is an ionomer resin including a copolymer containing the following first structural unit.

##STR00001##

L.sub.1 to L.sub.5 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkanol group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a specific functional group including an anion-exchange group, and an example of the functional group is Z.sub.2-M.sub.1-Z.sub.1(R.sub.1)(R.sub.2)(R.sub.3). R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 are directly bonded to Z.sub.1 and are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an alkanol group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms. M.sub.1 is a linear hydrocarbon chain having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, Z.sub.1 is a nitrogen atom or a phosphorus atom, and Z.sub.2 is a nitrogen atom bonded to one hydrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom. L.sub.6 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group.

Disclosed is a multilayer optical compensation film comprising a first layer comprising a positive C-plate material and a second layer comprising a polyimide, as well as polymer compositions and resins and solutions containing said polymer compositions. The optical compensation film has a reversed wavelength dispersion that is capable of providing an achromatic (or broadband) retardation compensation. The optical film can be used in optical devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays.