A polyether compound having a cationic group and two or more chain end groups and, wherein all of the chain end groups are any of a hydroxyl group and an azide group is provided.

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.

An ion exchange membrane is provided which includes an ion exchange polymer that is partially cross-linked. The partially cross-linked ion exchange polymer will be more stable and will not be washed out over time. The ion exchange polymer may be UV or chemically cross-linked, wherein a cross-linking compound is added to the ion exchange polymer either before or after coupling to a support material. A support material may be made of, or be coated with, a cross-linking compound and the support material may initiate cross-linking proximal to the support material. The support material may be made of a material that chemically bonds with the ionomer.

The invention relates to polymers comprising sulfonated 2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide repeating units, to a method for their preparation, and to their use in a membrane electrode assembly, in a proton exchange membrane, in a fuel cell, in an electrolyser, in an electrolytic hydrogen compressor or in a flow battery. The invention further relates to a proton exchange membrane comprising said polymer and to a method for the preparation of a proton exchange membrane from said polymer. The invention also relates to the use of the polymers in ion exchange materials.

The invention relates to:—anion exchange blend membranes consisting the following blend components:—a halomethylated polymer (a polymer with —(CH2)x—CH2—Hal groups, Hal=F, CI, 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 N—H-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 —SO2Me, 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 provides compounds, especially polymeric compounds, having preferably at least one spiro or piperidine structural unit, a process for preparation thereof and the use thereof as anion conducting membrane.

Disclosed are a proton exchange membrane made of a crystalline sulfonated polyimide block copolymer, a preparation method and use thereof. The crystalline sulfonated polyimide block copolymer has a chemical structure as shown in Formula (I), in which Ar1 group is an aromatic group containing a naphthyl group, Ar2 group is an aromatic group containing at least one sulfonate group, and x is in the range of 5-100, m is in the range of 1-200, and n is in the range of 5-500.

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

The invention relates to: —anion exchange blend membranes consisting the following blend components: —a halomethylated polymer (a polymer with —(CH.sub.2).sub.x—CH.sub.2—Hal 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 N—H-groups of the base matrix polymer using covalent 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 covalent 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).

Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm.sup.2 or greater.