Provided are a method for producing an anion exchange resin which is capable of producing an electrolyte membrane with excellent mechanical property (strength).

A monomer for forming a hydrophobic group is reacted with a monomer for forming a hydrophilic group in the presence of bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) as a catalyst, 2,2′-bipyridine as a co-ligand, a bromide or an iodide as a co-catalyst, and a reducing agent to produce an anion exchange resin where the hydrophobic group is connected to the hydrophilic group via direct bond, in which a mole number of bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) is 0.3 to 1.8 times a total mole number of the monomer for forming a hydrophobic group and the monomer for forming a hydrophilic group.

The invention relates to membranes, monomers and polymers. The monomers can form polymers, which can be used for membranes. The membranes can be used in alkaline fuel cells, for water purification, for electrolysis, for flow batteries, and for anti-bacterial membranes and materials, as well as membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. In addition to the membranes, polymers and monomers and methods of using the membranes, the present invention also relates to methods of making the membranes, monomers and polymers.

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.

An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoroMethyl Ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 BiPhenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.

Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane, a method of manufacturing the membrane, and a membrane-electrode assembly including the membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane contains a porous support having a plurality of pores, a first layer including a first ion conductor that fills the pores adjoining one surface of the porous support, and a second layer including a second ion conductor that fills the pores adjoining the other surface of the porous support, wherein the first ion conductor and the second ion conductor are different from each other, and one selected from the group consisting of the first layer, the second layer, and a combination thereof includes an organic-based antioxidant.

An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoroMethyl Ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 BiPhenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.

An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoroMethyl Ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 BiPhenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.

The invention relates to membranes, monomers and polymers. The monomers can form polymers, which can be used for membranes. The membranes can be used in alkaline fuel cells, for water purification, for electrolysis, for flow batteries, and for anti-bacterial membranes and materials, as well as membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. In addition to the membranes, polymers and monomers and methods of using the membranes, the present invention also relates to methods of making the membranes, monomers and polymers.

An ion exchange membrane has multiple layers of ionic polymers which each contain substantially different chemical compositions. i.e. varying side chain lengths, varying backbone chemistries or varying ionic functionality. Utilizing completely different chemistries has utility in many applications such as fuel cells where for example, one layer can help reduce fuel crossover through the membrane. Or one layer can impart substantial hydrophobicity to the electrode formulation. Or one layer can selectively diffuse a reactant while excluding others. Also, one chemistry may allow for impartation of significant mechanical properties or chemical resistance to another more ionically conductive ionomer. The ion exchange membrane may include at least two layers with substantially different chemical properties.

The present invention pertains to a polyurethane fluoropolymer [polymer (F.sub.p)] obtainable by reacting: (i) at least one fluoropolymer [polymer (F)] comprising one or more recurring units derived from at least one (meth)acrylic monomer [monomer (MA)] having formula (I) here below: wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, equal to or different from each other, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom and a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 hydrocarbon group, R.sub.H is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 hydrocarbon group comprising from 1 to 5 hydroxyl groups, x being an integer comprised between 1 and 5, and, optionally, comprising one or more functional groups selected from double bonds, epoxy, ester, ether and carboxylic acid groups, with (ii) at least one isocyanate compound comprising at least one isocyanate functional group [compound (I)], (iii) optionally in the presence of one or more chain extenders, said polyurethane fluoropolymer [polymer (F.sub.p)] comprising at least one bridging group having formula (a) here below: wherein: R.sub.H is a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 hydrocarbon group comprising from 1 to 5 urethane moieties, x being an integer comprised between 1 and 5, and, optionally, comprising one or more functional groups selected from double bonds, epoxy, ester, ether and carboxylic acid groups. The invention also pertains to a process for the manufacture of said polymer (F.sub.p) and to uses of said polymer (F.sub.p). ##STR00001##