Presently described are polylactic acid polymer based films comprising a structured surface and articles. In one embodiment, the film comprises a semicrystalline polylactic acid polymer; a second polymer such as polyvinyl acetate polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 25° C.; and plasticizer. Articles are also described such as a tape or sheet, comprising the structured PLA-based film and a layer of (e.g. pressure sensitive) adhesive disposed on the film. In some embodiments, the tape or sheet further comprises a low adhesion backsize or a release liner. The article can be suitable for various end-uses. In one embodiment, the tape is a paint masking tape. In another embodiment, the tape is a floor marking tape.

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=0≤n<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 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 present invention relates to a self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane including an aromatic hydrocarbon polymer ion-exchange membrane formed on the surface of a porous polymer support and a thin hydrophobic coating layer having a nanocracked morphology pattern on the surface of the ion-exchange membrane. The self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane of the present invention has good thermal/chemical stability, high mechanical strength, high ion-exchange capacity, and good long-term operational stability. Particularly, the self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane of the present invention is able to self-hydrate even under high-temperature and low-humidity conditions. Due to these advantages, it is expected that the self-humidifying ion-exchange composite membrane of the present invention will be commercialized as an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell or a membrane for water treatment.

This is to provide a non-halogen containing compound excellent in proton conductivity and capable of suitably being used for a polymer electrolytic fuel cell

The compound of the present invention has a structure represented by the following general formula (I).

##STR00001##

(In the above-mentioned general formula (I), l and n are molar fractions when l+n=1.0, and 0l<1.0 and 0<n1.0, A represents a structure represented by the following general formula (II) or (III), B represents a structure represented by the following general formula (VII), the respective structural units are random copolymerized, and at least one benzene ring in the formula (I) has at least one sulfo group.)

##STR00002##

(In the above-mentioned general formula (II) or (III), R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently selected from hydrogen and an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, le and R.sup.2 form together with the carbon atom, they are attached to, an aromatic ring or a fused aromatic ring and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 form together with the carbon atom, they are attached to, an aromatic ring or a fused aromatic ring, or R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are hydrogens and R.sup.2 is a single bond and bonded to the carbon of c, X is a single bond, or a structure represented by the following formula (IV), the following formula (V) or the following formula (VI), when X is a single bond, bonds as are both bonded at ortho positions or both bonded at meta positions relative to the carbons bonded to X, when X is a structure represented by the following formula (IV), bonds as are both bonded at para positions relative to the carbons bonded to X, and when it is a structure represented by the following formula (V), bonds as are both bonded at para positions or both bonded at meta positions relative to the carbons bonded to x, when X is a structure represented by the following formula (VI), the bonds as in the above-mentioned general formula (II) or (III) exist only one of these, and A binds to other structure or a structural unit by one of the bonds as and the bond b.)

##STR00003##

Thin film composite membranes and methods of fabricating thin film composite membranes are disclosed. A thin film composite membrane can include nitrogen-doped graphene oxide quantum dots. The graphene oxide quantum dots can be doped with nitrogen to increase the performance of the thin film composite membrane. Other particulate compounds can be further integrated with the thin film composite membrane including zeolites, titanium oxides, and sulfur oxides. The thin film composite membranes can be used for various applications including desalination.

Disclosed are an anion exchange membrane based on an aromatic polymer functionalized with an imidazolium group, a preparation method thereof, and a vanadium redox flow battery including the membrane. The anion exchange membrane based on an aromatic polymer functionalized with an imidazolium group contains a compound represented by a following Chemical Formula 1:

##STR00001##

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.

Water electrolysis systems that operate at intermediate temperature (i.e., between about 100 C. and about 300 C.) are described. At least some aspects of the present disclosure relate to proton exchange membrane steam electrolysis (PEMSE) systems including a polymer electrolyte comprising at least one phosphorous atom. In at least some examples, the polymer electrolyte my comprise phosphonic acid.

An optionally oriented copolyester film comprising a copolyester which comprises repeating units derived from an aliphatic diol, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a poly(alkylene oxide), wherein the copolyester film further comprises lithium ions, and wherein the film has a thickness of no more than about 25 m. The copolyester film is suitable for use a separator in a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.