An electrochemical compressor utilizes an anion conducting layer disposed between an anode and a cathode for transporting a working fluid. The working fluid may include carbon dioxide that is dissolved in water and is partially converted to carbonic acid that is equilibrium with bicarbonate anion. An electrical potential across the anode and cathode creates a pH gradient that drives the bicarbonate anion across the anion conducting layer to the cathode, wherein it is reformed into carbon dioxide. Therefore, carbon dioxide is pumped across the anion conducting layer. The compressor may be part of a refrigeration system that pumps the working fluid in a closed loop through a condenser and an evaporator.

A proton-exchange membrane includes a polymer matrix, polymer fibers, or a combination thereof. The proton-exchange membrane also includes a proton-conducting material distributed on the polymer matrix, on the polymer fibers, in the polymer fibers, or a combination thereof.

An ion-conducting structure comprises a metal-fibril complex formed by one or more elementary nanofibrils. Each elementary nanofibril can be composed of a plurality of cellulose molecular chains with functional groups. Each elementary nanofibril can also have a plurality of metal ions. Each metal ion can act as a coordination center between the functional groups of adjacent cellulose molecular chains so as to form a respective ion transport channel between the cellulose molecular chains. The metal-fibril complex can comprise a plurality of second ions. Each second ion can be disposed within one of the ion transport channels so as to be intercalated between the corresponding cellulose molecular chains. In some embodiments, the metal-fibril complex is formed as a solid-state structure.

Compositions and methods related to the synthesis and application of poly(aryl ether)s are generally described.

Biodegradable composite membranes with antimicrobial properties consisting of nanocellulose fibrils, chitosan, and S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) were developed and tested for food packaging applications. Nitric oxide donor, SNAP was encapsulated into completely dispersed chitosan in 100 mL, 0.1N acetic acid and was thoroughly mixed with nanocellulose fibrils (CNF) to produce a composite membrane. The fabricated membranes had a uniform dispersion of chitosan and SNAP within the nanocellulose fibrils, which was confirmed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs and chemiluminescence nitric oxide analyzer. The membranes prepared without SNAP showed lower water vapor permeability than that of the membranes with SNAP. The addition of SNAP resulted in a decrease in the Young's modulus for both 2-layer and 3-layer membrane configurations. Antimicrobial property evaluation of SNAP incorporated membranes showed an effective zone of inhibition against bacterial strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and demonstrated its potential applications for food packaging.

A polymer electrolyte composition includes a hard polymer segment covalently bound to an ionically-conducting segment, and a salt that includes an element M selected from an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, zinc, and aluminum. The hard polymer segment has a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) greater than or equal to 110 C., or a melting temperature (T.sub.m) greater than 110 C. The ionically-conducting segment has a molecular weight of 800 to 10,000 g/mol. The polymer electrolyte composition has an ionic conductivity for an M ion greater than or equal to 110.sup.8 S/cm at 25 C. Methods for the preparation of the polymer electrolyte composition are also provided, as are articles (e.g., electrochemical cells and energy storage devices) that contain the polymer electrolyte composition.

Anion exchange polymers comprise a plurality of repeating units of formula (I). The polymer may be synthesized from a super acid catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reaction of monomers Ar.sub.1, Ar.sub.2, and X.sub.1 to form a neutral precursor polymer followed by a Menshutkin reaction to convert the neutral precursor polymer to the anion exchange polymer.

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Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

A structured organic film (SOF) is disclosed including a plurality of segments, a plurality of linkers, and a plurality of ionic capping segments, where at least one or more ionic capping segments may include imidazolium. Implementations of the structured organic film (SOF) include where a concentration of ionic capping segments in the SOF is from about 0.1 to about 5.0 molar equivalents of ionic capping segments as compared to a concentration of nonionic segments in the SOF. A thickness of the SOF is from about 100 nm to about 500 ?m. At least one of the plurality of ionic capping segments may include n-hydroxyethyl-1,2,4,5-tetramethylimidazolium (NETMImBr). At least one of the plurality of ionic capping segments may include n-hydroxypropyl-1,2,4,5-tetramethylimidazolium (NPTMImBr). An ion-exchange membrane may include the structured organic film (SOF).

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 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.

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 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.