A fuel cell separator includes a separator main body having a first surface and a second surface, and a first seal member disposed on the first surface. When a region on the first surface of the separator main body corresponding to an electrode member disposed on the second surface is defined as a power generation region, and a region on the first surface of the separator main body corresponding to an in-cell seal member is defined as a seal region, a displacement/vibration reducing member made of polymer is disposed at a part of the seal region. The displacement/vibration reducing member includes multiple protrusions and a coupling portion. When viewed in plan view, an axis line connecting the centers of the figures of the adjacent protrusions does not coincide with a center line passing through the widthwise center of the coupling portion. The coupling portion has a gate cut mark.

A fuel cell separator includes a separator main body having a first surface and a second surface, and a first seal member disposed on the first surface. When a region on the first surface of the separator main body corresponding to an electrode member disposed on the second surface is defined as a power generation region, and a region on the first surface of the separator main body corresponding to an in-cell seal member is defined as a seal region, a displacement/vibration reducing member made of polymer is disposed at a part of the seal region. The displacement/vibration reducing member includes multiple protrusions and a coupling portion. When viewed in plan view, an axis line connecting the centers of the figures of the adjacent protrusions does not coincide with a center line passing through the widthwise center of the coupling portion. The coupling portion has a gate cut mark.

A fuel battery cell includes: a first separator, a first gas diffusion layer, a first catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a second catalyst layer, a second gas diffusion layer, and a second separator that are sequentially laminated along a laminating direction; a first gas flow path part that is provided between the first separator and the first gas diffusion layer; and a second gas flow path part that is provided between the first separator and the first gas diffusion layer and adjacent to the first gas flow path part in a direction intersecting the laminating direction, and has a flow path area larger than that of the first gas flow path part in a plan view seen along the laminating direction. The first gas diffusion layer includes a first low-elasticity part facing the first gas flow path part, and a first high-elasticity part facing the second gas flow path part and having a higher compressive modulus of elasticity than that of the first low-elasticity part in the laminating direction.

A fuel battery cell includes: a first separator, a first gas diffusion layer, a first catalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a second catalyst layer, a second gas diffusion layer, and a second separator that are sequentially laminated along a laminating direction; a first gas flow path part that is provided between the first separator and the first gas diffusion layer; and a second gas flow path part that is provided between the first separator and the first gas diffusion layer and adjacent to the first gas flow path part in a direction intersecting the laminating direction, and has a flow path area larger than that of the first gas flow path part in a plan view seen along the laminating direction. The first gas diffusion layer includes a first low-elasticity part facing the first gas flow path part, and a first high-elasticity part facing the second gas flow path part and having a higher compressive modulus of elasticity than that of the first low-elasticity part in the laminating direction.

A method of separating a mixture of fluids may comprise contacting an absorbent material with a mixture of fluids comprising a first fluid and a second fluid having different polarities, wherein the absorbent material selectively absorbs the first fluid to provide a permeate comprising the first fluid and a retentate comprising the second fluid. The absorbent material comprises a zwitterionic polymer, the zwitterionic polymer being a polymerization product of reactants comprising a zwitterionic monomer and a (meth)acrylate crosslinker. The zwitterionic monomer is selected from the group consisting of: a zwitterionic monomer of Formula I, R—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—NR′.sub.2.sup.+—(CH.sub.2).sub.n-A.sup.−, wherein R is selected from a carboxyamide, a (meth)acrylate, and an alkyl; m is an integer of from 0 to 5; each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen and an alkyl; n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and A.sup.− is SO.sub.3.sup.− or CO.sub.2.sup.−; a zwitterionic monomer of Formula II, R—(CH.sub.2).sub.m-A.sup.−-(CH.sub.2).sub.n—NR′.sub.3.sup.+, wherein R is an (meth)acrylate; m is an integer of from 1 to 5; A is PO.sub.4.sup.−; n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen and an alkyl; carboxybetaine diacrylamide; (3-methacryloylamino-propyl)-(2-carboxy-ethyl)-dimethylammonium; 3-[Dimethyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio]-1-propanesulfonate; 1-methylpyridinium 3-sulfonate; and combinations thereof.

A method of separating a mixture of fluids may comprise contacting an absorbent material with a mixture of fluids comprising a first fluid and a second fluid having different polarities, wherein the absorbent material selectively absorbs the first fluid to provide a permeate comprising the first fluid and a retentate comprising the second fluid. The absorbent material comprises a zwitterionic polymer, the zwitterionic polymer being a polymerization product of reactants comprising a zwitterionic monomer and a (meth)acrylate crosslinker. The zwitterionic monomer is selected from the group consisting of: a zwitterionic monomer of Formula I, R—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—NR′.sub.2.sup.+—(CH.sub.2).sub.n-A.sup.−, wherein R is selected from a carboxyamide, a (meth)acrylate, and an alkyl; m is an integer of from 0 to 5; each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen and an alkyl; n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and A.sup.− is SO.sub.3.sup.− or CO.sub.2.sup.−; a zwitterionic monomer of Formula II, R—(CH.sub.2).sub.m-A.sup.−-(CH.sub.2).sub.n—NR′.sub.3.sup.+, wherein R is an (meth)acrylate; m is an integer of from 1 to 5; A is PO.sub.4.sup.−; n is an integer of from 1 to 5; and each R′ is independently selected from hydrogen and an alkyl; carboxybetaine diacrylamide; (3-methacryloylamino-propyl)-(2-carboxy-ethyl)-dimethylammonium; 3-[Dimethyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio]-1-propanesulfonate; 1-methylpyridinium 3-sulfonate; and combinations thereof.

Systems and methods are provided for mechanical pretreatment of bipolar plates, for example, for plating electrodes in redox flow batteries. In one example, a method for disrupting surfaces of a bipolar plate may include pressing the bipolar plate between imprint plates, and removing the pressed bipolar plate from the imprint plates prior to use in a redox flow battery. In some examples, the pressed bipolar plate may include negative indentations from at least one of the imprint plates. In some examples, the imprint plates may be patterned meshes, such that the negative indentations may include patterns of asymmetric protrusions. In this way, the bipolar plate may be pretreated via pressing so as to reduce wear to manufacturing equipment (relative to other mechanical pretreatment processes, for example) while maintaining electrochemical performance of the redox flow battery.

A composite membrane includes an ion-conductive polymer layer; and a plurality of gas blocking inorganic particles non-continuously aligned on the ion-conductive polymer layer, wherein the composite membrane has a radius of curvature of about 10 millimeters or less.

A composite membrane includes an ion-conductive polymer layer; and a plurality of gas blocking inorganic particles non-continuously aligned on the ion-conductive polymer layer, wherein the composite membrane has a radius of curvature of about 10 millimeters or less.

A modular flow battery includes a battery stack container housing a plurality of redox flow battery stacks in fluid communication with at least one pair of electrolyte containers including an anolyte container for holding an anolyte and a catholyte container for holding a catholyte. Additional pairs of electrolyte containers can be connected to the battery stack container to increase an amount of energy that can be stored by the modular flow battery system. Respective housings enclosing each of the battery stack container and the electrolyte containers are configured for operation in a stacked configuration. In this manner, the energy storage capacity of the modular flow battery system can be further increased with substantially no increase in a lateral area occupied by the system.