Provided are an anion exchange resin being capable of producing an electrolyte membrane and the like, which have improved chemical properties (durability). For example, used is an anion exchange resin comprising a hydrophobic unit being composed of a plurality of divalent hydrophobic groups repeated via carbon-carbon bond, the divalent hydrophobic group having a plurality of aromatic rings which are connected to each other via a divalent fluorine-containing group; and a hydrophilic unit being composed of a plurality of hydrophilic groups repeated via carbon-carbon bond, the hydrophilic groups being composed of a plurality of aromatic rings which are connected to each other via a divalent hydrocarbon group and/or carbon-carbon bond, and the hydrophilic groups containing an anion exchange group-containing group including a quaternary ammonium salt having a piperidine ring, and wherein the hydrophobic unit and the hydrophilic unit are connected via carbon-carbon bond.

Disclosed herein is an electrolytic membrane with cationic ion or anionic ion conducting capability comprising crosslinked inorganic-organic hybrid electrolyte in a porous support, wherein the inorganic-organic hybrid crosslinked electrolyte is formed by chemical born formation between Linkers and Crosslinkers, wherein Linkers and/or Crosslinkers include at least one element from Si, P, N, Ti, Zr, Al, B, Ge, Mg, Sn, W, Zn, V, Nb, Pb or S.

Porous silicon and methods for preparation and use of the same are disclosed. The porous silicon materials have utility either alone or in combination with other materials, for example, combined with carbon particles for energy storage applications.

Porous silicon and methods for preparation and use of the same are disclosed. The porous silicon materials have utility either alone or in combination with other materials, for example, combined with carbon particles for energy storage applications.

The present invention provides a cation exchange resin, and a cation exchange membrane and an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell using the same. The cation exchange resin comprises a divalent hydrophobic unit; and a divalent hydrophilic unit having divalent hydrophilic groups which are repeated via carbon-carbon bond. The divalent hydrophilic groups being composed of one aromatic ring, or being composed of a plurality of aromatic rings which are bonded to each other via a divalent hydrocarbon group, a divalent silicon-containing group, a divalent nitrogen-containing group, a divalent phosphorus-containing group, a divalent oxygen-containing group, a divalent sulfur-containing group, or carbon-carbon bond, and at least one of the aromatic rings having a cation exchange group; wherein the hydrophobic unit and the hydrophilic unit are bonded to each other via carbon-carbon bond.

The present application relates to a proton exchange membrane for fuel cell, said membrane having self-regenerating properties, to cells comprising said membranes, and to the manufacturing method thereof via electrospinning.

Composites of porous nano-featured silicon and various materials, such as carbon, are provided. The composites find utility in various applications, such as electrical energy storage electrodes and devices comprising the same.

The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoropolynner film comprising a fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite, said process comprising the following steps: (i) providing a mixture of: at least one fluoropolymer [polymer (F)]; at least one metal compound [compound (M)] having formula: X.sub.4-mAY.sub.m wherein m is an integer from 1 to 4, A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti and Zr, Y is a hydrolysable group and X is a hydrocarbon group, optionally comprising one or more functional groups; a liquid medium consisting essentially of at least one ionic liquid (IL) and, optionally, at least one additive (A); optionally, at least one electrolytic salt (ES); and optionally, at least one organic solvent (S); (ii) hydrolyzing and/or polycondensing said compound (M) to yield a liquid mixture comprising fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite comprising inorganic domains and incorporating said liquid medium; (iii) processing a film from the liquid mixture obtained in step (ii); and (iv) drying and then, optionally, curing the film obtained in step (iii) for obtaining the fluoropolymer film. The invention also pertains to the fluoropolymer film obtained from said process and to use of said fluoropolymer film in electrochemical and photo-electrochemical devices.

The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing a fluoropolynner film comprising a fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite, said process comprising the following steps: (i) providing a mixture of: at least one fluoropolymer [polymer (F)]; at least one metal compound [compound (M)] having formula: X.sub.4-mAY.sub.m wherein m is an integer from 1 to 4, A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti and Zr, Y is a hydrolysable group and X is a hydrocarbon group, optionally comprising one or more functional groups; a liquid medium consisting essentially of at least one ionic liquid (IL) and, optionally, at least one additive (A); optionally, at least one electrolytic salt (ES); and optionally, at least one organic solvent (S); (ii) hydrolyzing and/or polycondensing said compound (M) to yield a liquid mixture comprising fluoropolymer hybrid organic/inorganic composite comprising inorganic domains and incorporating said liquid medium; (iii) processing a film from the liquid mixture obtained in step (ii); and (iv) drying and then, optionally, curing the film obtained in step (iii) for obtaining the fluoropolymer film. The invention also pertains to the fluoropolymer film obtained from said process and to use of said fluoropolymer film in electrochemical and photo-electrochemical devices.

An anion exchange resin capable of producing an electrolyte membrane, a binder for forming an electrode catalyst layer and a fuel cell electrode catalyst layer, which have improved chemical properties and mechanical properties; an electrolyte membrane and a binder for forming an electrode catalyst layer produced from the anion exchange resin; and a fuel cell having the electrolyte membrane or the electrode catalyst layer.