The present specification relates to a block polymer and a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising the same, a membrane-electrode assembly comprising the polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel cell comprising the membrane-electrode assembly, and a redox flow battery comprising the polymer electrolyte membrane.

A lithium metal secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a protective layer interposed between the negative electrode and the separator. The protective layer includes an additive, wherein the additive comprises a mixture of hexagonal boron nitride (BN) flakes with an ionomer having a sulfur (S)-containing anionic group and fluorine (F).

To provide: a polymer having excellent mechanical strength and tensile strength; a simple method for producing the polymer; a separation membrane and an electrolyte membrane produced by using the polymer and having excellent chemical durability and mechanical strength; a fuel cell, water electrolysis, and an electrolysis technique in which the electrolyte membrane is used. The polymer has a repeating unit represented by the following Formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by the following Formula (2).

##STR00001##

In Formulas (1) and (2), Ar.sup.1 is a group containing an aromatic ring. Ar.sup.2 is each independently a group having a structure represented by the above Formula (3) at both ends. L.sup.1 is an organic group in which an angle formed between two bonding hands that L.sup.1 is 45 to 90 degrees.

Provided is a charge-transporting composition that contains: a charge-transporting substance comprising a polythiophene derivative represented by formula (1); a fluorine-based surfactant; metal oxide nanoparticles; and a solvent.

##STR00001##

(R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group having 1-40 carbon atoms, O[ZO].sub.pR.sup.e, a sulfonic acid group, or the like, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 bond to each other to form OYO. Y is an alkylene group having 1-40 carbon atoms, which may contain an ether bond and which may be substituted with a sulfonic acid group. Z is an alkylene group having 1-40 carbon atoms, which may be substituted with a halogen atom. p is 1 or more, and R.sup.e is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a 1-40 carbon atoms, or the like.)

Described herein are anionic phenylene oligomers and polymers, and devices including these materials. The oligomers and polymers can be prepared in a convenient and well-controlled manner, and can be used in cation exchange 5 membranes. Also described is the controlled synthesis of anionic phenylene monomers and their use in synthesizing anionic oligomers and polymers, with precise control of the position and number of anionic groups.

This invention relates to a process for forming a long-chain branched polymer and a long-chain branched polymer resulting from the process. The process comprises reacting (a) a polyolefin base polymer with (b) a coupling agent comprising a polymeric coupling agent, optionally blended with a molecular coupling agent, the polymeric coupling agent being a modified polyolefin having a reactive coupling group at one or more terminal ends of the modified polyolefin chain, to couple the polyolefin base polymer (a) with the coupling agent (b) to form a long-chain branched polymer having a long-chain branching and/or higher surface energy relative to the polyolefin base polymer.

An interpenetrating network (IPN) polymer membrane material includes a soft polyurethane interspersed with a crosslinked conducting polymer. The material can be reversibly switched between its oxidized and reduced states by the application of a small voltage, 1 to 4 volts, thus modulating its diffusivity.

The present invention relates to polymers and copolymer including a poly(phenylene) structure, as well as a long tether. In some embodiments, the long tether facilitates a reaction between the poly(phenylene) structure and another subunit of a second polymer. In some embodiments, the tether is flexible.

Methods and devices are provided for pretreatment of a sample containing microbial cells. In some embodiments, the pretreatment of the sample is performed via the initial selective lysis, within a sample pretreatment vessel, of non-microbial cells (such as blood cells) and the subsequent centrifugal separation of the sample to remove the resulting debris and concentrate the microbial cells. An immiscible and dense cushioning liquid may be included for collecting the microbial cells adjacent to the liquid interface formed by the cushioning liquid upon centrifugation of the pretreatment vessel. After removal of a substantial quantity of the supernatant, resuspension of the collected microbial cells, and re-establishment of the cushioning liquid interface, at least a portion of the remaining suspension may be removed without substantially removing the cushioning liquid. One or more intermediate wash cycles may be performed prior to extraction of the remaining suspension, which provides a pretreated sample.

The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatus comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tag and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and method of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.