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.

Described herein are double-strand chain compositions suitable for use in the preparation of proton conductive membranes. The double-strand chains comprise a plurality of constitutional units joined to each other through two atoms on one side of the constitutional unit and two atoms on the other side of the constitutional unit. Constitutional units comprise a dibenzo-crown ether macrocycle fused with a bicyclic aliphatic linker. Polymers, membranes, and fuel cells comprising the double-strand chain are also described herein.

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 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 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.

Embodiments provide a redox flow battery, an ion exchange membrane for use in the redox flow battery and a method for producing the ion exchanger membrane. The ion exchange membrane includes a base layer, a first hydrophobic layer, and a second hydrophobic layer. The base layer includes sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone). The base layer has a first surface and a second surface. The first hydrophobic layer includes a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer. The first hydrophobic layer is positioned on the first surface of the base layer. The second hydrophobic layer includes the polydimethylsiloxane elastomer. The second hydrophobic layer is positioned on the second surface of the base layer. The ion exchange membrane is configured to prevent cross contamination of the first electrolyte and the second electrolyte. The redox flow battery includes a first half-cell, a second half-cell, and the ion exchange membrane. The first half-cell includes a first electrolyte. The second half-cell includes a second electrolyte. The first half-cell and the second half-cell are configured to undergo a redox reaction to discharge and charge the redox flow battery.

A bio-based poly(arylether sulfone) copolymer (“copolymer b-PAES”) comprises at least two sulfone recurring units derived from two distinct dihydroxy/diol monomers: a bio-compatible and bio-based diol momoner and a bisphenol monomer distinct from Bisphenol S (BPS) and Bisphenol A (BPA). The dihydroxy bisphenol monomer comprises a substituted-phenol bisphenolic compound distinct from BPS and BPA, preferably comprises a bisphenol F derivative with both alkyl substituted-phenol groups. The bio-based diol monomer comprises at least one diol selected from isosorbide, isomannide and/or isoidide. The copolymer b-PAES is preferably free of BPA and BPS. A process for manufacturing such copolymer b-PAES, its use for manufacturing an article, an article made therefrom such as membranes, and a polymer solution for manufacture of membrane comprising such copolymer b-PAES.

The present application relates to a polymer, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electrolyte membrane including the same.

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.