Provided are an proton conducting polymer electrolyte membrane and a manufacturing method thereof which control the proton conducting nanochannel size and proton conductivityby phase separation improvement of a polar aprotic solvent in casting the proton conducting polymer electrolyte membrane.

A copolymer including a repeating unit represented by Formula I: wherein: L is a divalent hydrocarbon group comprising from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and L is optional and when present is represented by Formula II: wherein: Y, Y and Y if present, are independently selected from: a carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphorous acid and phosphoric acid and their corresponding salt or ester; imino, amide, nitrile, hydrogen, hydroxyl and alkyl comprising from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and A, A and A if present, are independently selected from an arylene moiety, with the proviso one or both Y and A may not be present. ##STR00001##

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.

The invention relates to an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) having a multiblock copolymer including a hydrophilic norbornene-based monomer and a hydrophobic alkene-based or norbornene-based monomer. The hydrophilic norbornene-based monomers include one or more cationic head groups such as a quaternary ammonium ion, which can optionally be crosslinked with a crosslinking agent to increase the structural stability of the polymer. These AEMs can be employed in electrochemical devices such as fuel cells.

A flow battery includes: a first liquid containing a first nonaqueous solvent; a first electrode that is at least partly immersed in the first liquid; a second electrode which is a counter electrode to the first electrode; and a separator isolating the first electrode from the second electrode. The separator contains a lithium ion conductor. The lithium ion conductor contains a compound including main chains. At least one main chain of the main chains includes one or more aromatic rings and is cross-linked to at least another main chain of the main chains. At least one aromatic ring of the one or more aromatic rings includes one or more sulfo groups.

The invention pertains to a polyaryl ether sulfone polymer solution [solution (SP)] comprising: at least one sulfone polymer [polymer (PSI)] having recurring units, wherein more than 50% moles, with respect to all the recurring units of polymer (PSI), are recurring units (R.sub.PSI) selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (R.sub.PSI-1) and (R.sub.PSI-2) herein below: (R.sub.PSI-1) (R.sub.PSI-2) wherein: each of E, equal to or different from each other and at each occurrence, is selected from the group consisting of those of formulae (E-1) to (E-3): (E-I) (E-II) (E-III) each R is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, ether, thioether, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine and quaternary ammonium; and j is zero or an integer of 1 to 4; is a bond or a divalent group optionally comprising one or more than one heteroatom; preferably T is selected from the group consisting of a bond, CH.sub.2, C(O), C(CH.sub.3).sub.2, C(CF.sub.3).sub.2, C(?CCI.sub.2), C(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2COOH), and a group of formula: (A) at least one polar organic solvent [solvent (S)]; and at least one mixture of polyhydroxyl aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or derivatives thereof [mixture (PHA)], said mixture (PHA) comprising at least one ethylene glycol compound [compound (EthyGly)] and at least one glycerol compound [compound (Gly)], to its use for manufacturing membranes, and to membranes obtained therefrom.

##STR00001##

An electrochromic device includes a cathodic compartment including a cathodic material; an anodic compartment including an anodic material; and a transparent, ion-selective membrane displaced between the cathodic compartment and the anodic compartment wherein the transparent, ion-selective membrane is a cationic polymer.

A porous electrolytic composite membrane for electrochemical energy systems, such as alkaline fuel cells, metal-air batteries and alkaline electrolyzers, comprises a porous polymeric material and nanomaterials. The polymeric material is preferably polybenzimidazole (PBI). The nanomaterials are preferably functionalized or non-functionalized. The nanomaterials are preferably titania nanotubes and/or graphene oxide nanosheets. The membrane further comprises an electrolyte solution, such as KOH. A method of preparing the membrane is also provided.

The present invention relates to anionic exchange polymers including a poly(phenylene) structure. The structure can include any useful cationic moiety. Methods and uses of such structures and polymers are also described herein. In one instance, such polymers are employed to form a solid membrane.

The present disclosure provides alkaline-stable m-terphenyl benzimidazolium hydroxide compounds, in which the C2-position is attached to a phenyl group having various substituents at the ortho positions. Polymers incorporating m-terphenylene repeating groups derived from these alkaline-stable benzimidazolium hydroxide compounds are also presented, along with their inclusion in ionic membranes and in electrochemical devices.