A membrane is provided, as well as membrane electrode assemblies and sensors utilizing the membrane of the present technology. The membrane includes a membrane material with a top surface and a bottom surface; and a protonic ionic liquid disposed at least between the top surface and the bottom surface of the membrane material where the protonic ionic liquid is of Formula I. ##STR00001##

A first proton-donating layer (20a) is a layer having a proton-donative functional group on the surface, for example, a silicon oxide layer. A second proton-donating layer (20b) is also a layer having a proton-donative functional group on the surface, for example, a silicon oxide layer. Negative surface charges are formed on the main surface section of a first base (10a) and the main surface section of a second base (10b), and these negative charges increased the proton conductivity in an aqueous solution fed to a nano channel. Although, in the aqueous solution, proton migration through hopping between water molecules contributes to its diffusion, the negative charges formed on the main surfaces of the bases (10a, 10b) attract protons in the aqueous solution, and the conduction of protons is efficiently achieved in high-speed transfer regions formed in the vicinity of the proton-donating layers (20a, 20b).

A first proton-donating layer (20a) is a layer having a proton-donative functional group on the surface, for example, a silicon oxide layer. A second proton-donating layer (20b) is also a layer having a proton-donative functional group on the surface, for example, a silicon oxide layer. Negative surface charges are formed on the main surface section of a first base (10a) and the main surface section of a second base (10b), and these negative charges increased the proton conductivity in an aqueous solution fed to a nano channel. Although, in the aqueous solution, proton migration through hopping between water molecules contributes to its diffusion, the negative charges formed on the main surfaces of the bases (10a, 10b) attract protons in the aqueous solution, and the conduction of protons is efficiently achieved in high-speed transfer regions formed in the vicinity of the proton-donating layers (20a, 20b).

Disclosed are a separator and an electrochemical device comprising the same, the separator comprising: a porous substrate having a plurality of pores; and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate and in at least one type of region of the pores of the porous substrate, the porous coating layer containing a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer disposed on a part or the entirety of the surface of the inorganic particles to connect and fix the inorganic particles, wherein the binder polymer contains a copolymer including a vinylidene fluoride-derived repeat unit, a hexafluoropropylene-derived repeat unit, and a maleic acid monomethyl ester-derived repeat unit.

A solid alkaline fuel cell has a cathode that is supplied with an oxidant which contains oxygen, an anode that is supplied with a fuel which contains hydrogen atoms, and an inorganic solid electrolyte that is disposed between the anode and the cathode and that exhibits a hydroxide ion conductivity. The inorganic solid electrolyte enables the permeation of a fuel in an amount that produces carbon dioxide at the cathode of greater than or equal to 0.04 mol/s.Math.cm.sup.2 and less than or equal to 2.5 mol/s.Math.cm.sup.2 per unit surface area of a cathode-side surface.

A solid alkaline fuel cell has a cathode that is supplied with an oxidant which contains oxygen, an anode that is supplied with a fuel which contains hydrogen atoms, and an inorganic solid electrolyte that is disposed between the anode and the cathode and that exhibits a hydroxide ion conductivity. The inorganic solid electrolyte enables the permeation of a fuel in an amount that produces carbon dioxide at the cathode of greater than or equal to 0.04 mol/s.Math.cm.sup.2 and less than or equal to 2.5 mol/s.Math.cm.sup.2 per unit surface area of a cathode-side surface.

A flow battery according to embodiments includes an insulating frame body, a cathode, a first separator, a first anode, a reaction chamber, an electrolyte solution, a first liquid retention sheet, and a flow device. The frame body has a space including an opening on an end surface thereof. The cathode is located in the space. The first separator contacts the end surface and covers the opening. The first anode faces the cathode and interposes the first separator therebetween. The reaction chamber houses the cathode and the first anode. The electrolyte solution is located inside the reaction chamber and that contacts the cathode, the first anode, and the first separator. The liquid retention sheet is arranged between the cathode and the first separator, contacts the cathode and retains the electrolyte solution. The flow device is configured to make the electrolyte solution in the reaction chamber flow.

A flow battery according to embodiments includes an insulating frame body, a cathode, a first separator, a first anode, a reaction chamber, an electrolyte solution, a first liquid retention sheet, and a flow device. The frame body has a space including an opening on an end surface thereof. The cathode is located in the space. The first separator contacts the end surface and covers the opening. The first anode faces the cathode and interposes the first separator therebetween. The reaction chamber houses the cathode and the first anode. The electrolyte solution is located inside the reaction chamber and that contacts the cathode, the first anode, and the first separator. The liquid retention sheet is arranged between the cathode and the first separator, contacts the cathode and retains the electrolyte solution. The flow device is configured to make the electrolyte solution in the reaction chamber flow.

Provided are a polymer electrode membrane including a porous support including a web of nanofibers of a first hydrocarbon-based ion conductor that are arranged irregularly and discontinuously; and a second hydrocarbon-based ion conductor filling the pores of the porous support, the first hydrocarbon-based ion conductor being a product obtained by eliminating at least a portion of the protective groups (Y) in a precursor of the first hydrocarbon-based ion conductor represented by Formula (1), a method for producing the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a membrane electrode assembly including the polymer electrolyte membrane: ##STR00001##
wherein m, p, q, M, M, X and Y respectively have the same meanings as defined in the specification.

In an manufacturing apparatus, a belt-shaped electrolyte polymer is conveyed in a state disposed to a back sheet. A first reinforcement membrane is conveyed in a state disposed to a back sheet, and, in a first sticking section, stuck with the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer. In a first thermocompression bonding section, the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer and the first reinforcement membrane are thermally compressed. At this time, a molten electrolyte polymer reaches between the first reinforcement membrane and the back sheet thereof, and the first adhesiveness between the first reinforcement membrane and the back sheet thereof becomes higher than the second adhesiveness between the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer and the back sheet thereof. A first peel section peels, in this state, the back sheet from the belt-shaped electrolyte polymer.