Described herein is a polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that incorporates a shunt into the membrane separator that becomes electronically conductive around a well-defined anodic onset potential, thereby preventing excessive anodic potentials at the positive electrode that would otherwise drive deleterious parasitic reactions such as catalyst dissolution or catalyst and carbon oxidation.

The present invention relates to a membrane electrode unit comprising a polymer membrane doped with a mineral acid as well as two electrodes, characterized in that the polymer membrane comprises at least one polymer with at least one nitrogen atom and at least one electrode comprises a catalyst which is formed from at least one precious metal and at least one metal less precious according to the electrochemical series.

The present invention relates to a membrane electrode unit comprising a polymer membrane doped with a mineral acid as well as two electrodes, characterized in that the polymer membrane comprises at least one polymer with at least one nitrogen atom and at least one electrode comprises a catalyst which is formed from at least one precious metal and at least one metal less precious according to the electrochemical series.

A continuous automated process and production line for preparing an acid doped polybenzimidazole, PBI, polymer membrane film for use in a fuel cell, the process having a washing stage, a drying procedure, and a doping stage.

A continuous automated process and production line for preparing an acid doped polybenzimidazole, PBI, polymer membrane film for use in a fuel cell, the process having a washing stage, a drying procedure, and a doping stage.

An ion conducting polymer comprising a modified poly(phenylene oxide) is described. In an exemplary modified polymer, a portion of the monomeric units are attached to a sulfonate-substituted arylamino moiety, such as a monovalent derivative of phenoxy aniline trisulfonate (BOATS), to form a monomeric unit with a charged side chain. Ion conducting polymers can also be prepared with polyether-containing side chains. The ion conducting polymer can be used to prepare ion exchange membranes which can be used in a variety of applications, such as in non-aqueous redox flow batteries and related energy storage systems.

An ion conducting polymer comprising a modified poly(phenylene oxide) is described. In an exemplary modified polymer, a portion of the monomeric units are attached to a sulfonate-substituted arylamino moiety, such as a monovalent derivative of phenoxy aniline trisulfonate (BOATS), to form a monomeric unit with a charged side chain. Ion conducting polymers can also be prepared with polyether-containing side chains. The ion conducting polymer can be used to prepare ion exchange membranes which can be used in a variety of applications, such as in non-aqueous redox flow batteries and related energy storage systems.

Anion exchange polymers having high OH.sup.− conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical stability have been developed for use in AEMs. The anion exchange polymers have stable hydrophobic polymer backbones, stable hydrophilic quaternary ammonium cationic groups, and hydrophilic phenolic hydroxyl groups on the polymer side chains. The polymers have polymer backbones free of ether bonds, hydrophilic polymer side chains, and piperidinium ion-conducting functionality, which enables efficient and stable operation in water or CO.sub.2 electrolysis, redox flow battery, and fuel cell applications. The polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I)

##STR00001##

Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

Anion exchange polymers having high OH.sup.− conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical stability have been developed for use in AEMs. The anion exchange polymers have stable hydrophobic polymer backbones, stable hydrophilic quaternary ammonium cationic groups, and hydrophilic phenolic hydroxyl groups on the polymer side chains. The polymers have polymer backbones free of ether bonds, hydrophilic polymer side chains, and piperidinium ion-conducting functionality, which enables efficient and stable operation in water or CO.sub.2 electrolysis, redox flow battery, and fuel cell applications. The polymer comprises a plurality of repeating units of formula (I)

##STR00001##

Anion exchange membranes and membrane electrode assemblies incorporating the anion exchange polymers are also described.

Disclosed herein are proton transport membranes and methods of making and use thereof. The proton transport membranes comprise: a two-dimensional (2D) material having a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the two-dimensional material comprises graphene and hexagonal-boron nitride in an atomic ratio of from 100:0 to 0:100. In some examples: the top surface is functionalized with a first functional moiety and the bottom surface is not functionalized; the top surface is functionalized with a first functional moiety and the bottom surface is functionalized with the first functional moiety; or the top surface is functionalized with a first functional moiety and the bottom surface is functionalized with a second functional moiety, the second functional moiety being different than the first functional moiety. In some examples, the two-dimensional material is doped with a substitutional dopant in an amount of from greater than 0 atomic % (at %) to less than 100 at %.