A process of forming a cross-linked electronically active hydrophilic co-polymer is provided and includes the steps of: a. mixing an intrinsically electronically active material with water to form an intermediate mixture; b. adding at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophobic monomer, and at least one cross-linker to the intermediate mixture to form a co-monomer mixture; and c. polymerising the co-monomer mixture.

To provide an acid-type sulfonic acid group-containing polymer which is excellent in hydrogen gas barrier properties and hot water resistance and which generates less oligomer during production; a liquid composition and a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising this acid-type sulfonic acid group-containing polymer; and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with the polymer electrolyte membrane.

This acid-type sulfonic acid group-containing polymer is a polymer which has perfluoromonomer units, no monomer units having a halogen atom other than a fluorine atom, and acid-type sulfonic acid groups, and of which the hydrogen gas permeability coefficient under the conditions of a temperature of 80° C. and a relative humidity of 10%, is at most 2.5×10.sup.−9 cm.sup.3.Math.cm/(s.Math.cm.sup.2.Math.cmHg), and the mass reduction rate when being immersed in hot water at 120° C. for 24 hours is at most 15 mass %, wherein the TQ value of a polymer having fluorosulfonyl groups which is a precursor of the polymer having acid-type sulfonic acid groups, is at least 220° C.

A method for producing a solid electrolyte, comprising: grinding raw materials comprising lithium sulfide and phosphorus sulfide in a hydrocarbon solvent, optionally comprising stirring a slurry comprising the raw materials and the hydrocarbon solvent in a reaction vessel, and optionally, circulating the slurry through a connecting pipe, wherein the method is carried out in an apparatus comprising the grinder, the reaction vessel and the connecting pipe that connects the grinder and the reaction vessel.

Described is a core-shell nanoparticle comprising a lithium sulfide nanoparticle core and a shell covering the lithium sulfide nanoparticle core. The core-shell nanoparticle may be used for a positive electrode in a lithium/sulfur battery cell.

Methods and materials to fabricate electrochromic including electrochemical devices are disclosed. In particular, emphasis is placed on the composition, fabrication and incorporation of electrolytic sheets in these devices. Composition, fabrication and incorporation of redox layers and sealants suitable for these devices are also disclosed. Incorporation of EC devices in insulated glass system (IGU) windows is also disclosed.

Provided is an ion-conducting layer including: an ion conductive matrix; and a 1D composite dispersed in the ion conductive matrix and oriented in a membrane thickness direction, in which the 1D composite includes a core of a non-conductive 1D nanostructure; an intermediate layer enclosing the core and having magnetic nanoparticles bonded to a surface thereof; and a surface layer conducting the same kind of ions as ions in the matrix.

A flexible electrode and a fabrication method therefor are provided. The flexible electrode is formed by mixing organic-soft-matrix with inorganic-hard-material. The inorganic-hard-material is composed of silicate lamellar blocks and electrochemically active materials. Each of the silicate lamellar blocks is formed by multiple stacked nano-scaled sheet-like silicate lamellae. The organic-soft-matrix includes conductive polymer and binder. The binder is water-soluble and ionically conductive. The flexible electrode has a floor-ramp like opened-perforated layer structure formed by hierarchically aggregated inorganic silicate lamellar blocks, and pores of the opened-perforated layer structure are filled with the organic-soft-matrix, so as to form a network channel structure having organic phase and inorganic phase interlaced with each other. The floor-ramp like opened-perforated layer structure composed of aggregated inorganic silicate lamellar blocks contributes to stiffness of the flexible electrode, and the conductive polymer and the binder in the organic-soft-matrix respectively form electron channels and ion channels in the flexible electrode.

To provide a liquid composition capable of forming a membrane excellent in durability against hydrogen peroxide or peroxide radicals and excellent in hydrogen gas barrier property; a polymer electrolyte membrane; a membrane electrode assembly; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Liquid composition comprising a liquid medium, an acid-type sulfonic acid group-containing fluorocarbon polymer of which the hydrogen gas permeation coefficient under the conditions of a temperature of 80° C. and a relative humidity of 10% is at most 2.5×10.sup.−9 cm.sup.3.Math.cm/(s.Math.cm.sup.2.Math.cmHg), and cerium atoms; a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 comprising the acid-type sulfonic acid group-containing fluorocarbon polymer, and cerium atoms; and a membrane electrode assembly 10 comprising an anode 13 having a catalyst layer, a cathode 14 having a catalyst layer, and the polymer electrolyte membrane 15 disposed between the anode 13 and the cathode 14.

To provide a method for producing a polymer, whereby it is possible to obtain a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer having a high TQ value and a high ion exchange capacity. A method for producing a fluorosulfonyl group-containing fluorinated polymer, which comprises polymerizing a monomer represented by the following formula ml and tetrafluoroethylene, at a temperature of at least 110° C. and at most 250° C.:

##STR00001##

in the above formula, R.sup.F1 and R.sup.F2 are each a C.sub.1-3 perfluoroalkylene group.

To provide a perfluoropolymer capable of producing an electrolyte membrane excellent in mechanical strength in high temperature environments; as well as a liquid composition, polymer electrolyte membrane, membrane electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer, obtainable by using the perfluoropolymer.

The perfluoropolymer of the present invention contains perfluoromonomer units, does not substantially contain units having a halogen atom other than a fluorine atom, does not substantially contain units having a ring structure, and has acid-type sulfonic acid groups, wherein the perfluoromonomer units contain at least one type of units A selected from the group consisting of perfluorovinyl ether units and perfluoroallyl ether units; the ion exchange capacity is from 0.9 to 1.4 milliequivalent/gram dry resin; and the storage modulus at 120° C. is at least 100 MPa.