Nanostructured polyelectrolyte bilayers deposited by Layer-by-Layer deposition on nanoporous membranes can be selectively crosslinked to modify the polyelectrolyte charge density and control ionic selectivity independent of ionic conductivity. For example, the polyelectrolyte bilayer can comprise a cationic polymer layer, such as poly(ethyleneimine), and an anionic polymer layer, such as poly(acrylic acid). Increasing the number of bilayers increases the cation selectivity when the poly(ethyleneimine) layer is crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Crosslinking the membranes also increases the chemical and mechanical strength of the polyelectrolyte films. This controllable and inexpensive method can be used to create ion-selective and mechanically robust membranes on porous supports for a wide range of applications.

A method is disclosed for production of solutions of aminophosphonic acids and polymeric sulfonic acids in aprotic solvents. Membranes for membrane methodologies are produced from said solutions. Said membranes can also be doped with phosphoric acid.

The invention relates to: anion exchange blend membranes consisting the following blend components: a halomethylated polymer (a polymer with (CH.sub.2).sub.xCH.sub.2Hal groups, Hal=F, Cl, Br, I; x=0-12), which is quaternised with a tertiary or a n-alkylated/n-arylated imidazole, an N-alkylated/N-arylated benzimidazole or an N-alkylated/N-arylated pyrazol to form an anion exchanger polymer. an inert matrix polymer in which the anion exchange polymer is embedded and which is optionally covalently crosslinked with the halomethylated precursor of the anion exchanger polymer, a polyethyleneglycol with epoxide or halomethyl terminal groups which are anchored by reacting with NH-groups of the base matrix polymer using convalent cross-linking optionally an acidic polymer which forms with the anion-exchanger polymer an ionic cross-linking (negative bound ions of the acidic polymer forming ionic cross-linking positions relative to the positive cations of the anion-exchanger polymer) optionally a sulphonated polymer (polymer with sulphate groups SO.sub.2Me, Me=any cation), which forms with the halomethyl groups of the halomethylated polymer convalent crosslinking bridges with sulfinate S-alkylation. The invention also relates to a method for producing said membranes, to the use of said membranes in electrochemical energy conversion processes (e.g. Redox-flow batteries and other flow batteries, PEM-electrolyses, membrane fuel cells), and in other membrane methods (e.g. electrodialysis, diffusion dialysis).

The present invention relates to a novel proton-conducting polymer membrane based on polyazole polymers which, owing to their outstanding chemical and thermal properties, can be used widely and are suitable in particular as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for producing membrane electrode assemblies or so-called PEM fuel cells.

A method of production of a channel member for fuel cell use comprising a step of obtaining a sheet-shaped first conductor part 11 containing a carbon material of at least one of carbon nanotubes, granular graphite, and carbon fibers and a first resin, a step of laying a sheet-shaped second conductor part 21 containing a carbon material and a second resin with a lower melting point than the first resin to form a sheet-shaped base part 13, a step of transferring a grooved surface 51 to a surface to form a grooved base part 16 provided with groove part 15, a step of laying a sheet-shaped third conductor part 31 containing a carbon material and a third resin with a lower melting point than the first resin, and a step of integrally joining the grooved base part and the third conductor part by hot melt bonding to cover the groove parts.

A method of production of a channel member for fuel cell use comprising a step of obtaining a sheet-shaped first conductor part 11 containing a carbon material of at least one of carbon nanotubes, granular graphite, and carbon fibers and a first resin, a step of laying a sheet-shaped second conductor part 21 containing a carbon material and a second resin with a lower melting point than the first resin to form a sheet-shaped base part 13, a step of transferring a grooved surface 51 to a surface to form a grooved base part 16 provided with groove part 15, a step of laying a sheet-shaped third conductor part 31 containing a carbon material and a third resin with a lower melting point than the first resin, and a step of integrally joining the grooved base part and the third conductor part by hot melt bonding to cover the groove parts.

The invention concerns the field of polymer chemistry and relates to membranes, such as those that can be used, for example, for the preparation of aqueous solutions using microfiltration or ultrafiltration. The object of the present invention is to specify membranes which have improved anti-fouling properties and sliding friction properties. The object is attained with membranes comprised at least predominantly of multiblock copolymers of the general formula (1) ##STR00001##
where X=connection point E=C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 alkyl ether A=other block component not containing silicone R=C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl radical and/or phenyl radical m=1<m<500 n=0n<100 o=1<o<10 p=1<p<10 z=1<z<25, the molar ratio of the silicone-containing block component and the other block component A in the multiblock copolymer is between 5:1 and 1:5, and wherein the silicon-containing block components are predominantly arranged at the surface of the membranes.

A novel process for making PBI films starting from gel PBI membranes polymerized and casted in the PPA process wherein acid-imbibed gel PBIs are neutralized in a series of water baths and undergo controlled drying in association with a substrate material, yielding a PBI film without the use of organic solvents.

Disclosed are a polymer ion exchange membrane having a self-hydration capability at a high temperature under low humidity, a method of preparing the polymer ion exchange membrane, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system including the polymer ion exchange membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane includes a hydrocarbon-based proton conductive polymercoating layer, and has a nano-crack on the hydrophobic surface and thus may secure ion conductivity and self-hydration capability under low humidity and remarkably improve electrochemical performance of an electrolyte.

A manufacturing method of a proton conducting membrane includes a pressing process, a hydrolyzing process, and a peeling process. In the pressing process, a resin film is brought into contact with at least one surface of an electrolyte resin material dissolved in polyphosphoric acid and pressure is applied to form the electrolyte resin material into a membrane shape. In the hydrolyzing process, the polyphosphoric acid is hydrolyzed and phosphorylated after the pressing process. In the peeling process, the resin film is peeled off from the electrolyte resin material having the membrane shape after the hydrolyzing process to obtain the proton conducting membrane made of the electrolyte resin material containing phosphoric acid. The resin film is made of a resin having an acidic substituent.