A proton exchange solid support includes a first solid support including a polymer, a second solid support, and a tetravalent boron-based acid group that links the first solid support to the second solid support.

A method is proposed by means of which a composite layer is producible in as simple and controlled a manner as possible, and by means of which composite layers with different predetermined properties can be produced with as little expenditure as possible, and thus economically. The method includes: providing a nanofiber material, comminuting the nanofiber material while forming nanorods, providing a liquid medium, which comprises an ionomer component and a dispersant, dispersing the nanorods in the liquid medium while forming a nanorod ionomer dispersion, and applying the nanorod ionomer dispersion to a surface region of a substrate while forming a composite layer. An electrochemical unit including the composite layer is provided. The composite layer is useful in a fuel cell (hydrogen fuel cell or direct alcohol fuel cell), in a redox flow cell, in an electrolytic cell, or in an ion exchanger, and useful for anion or proton conduction.

The invention provides a preparation method of the matrix material for the gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell. The matrix material is obtained on the polyurethane sponge through the following process: conductively treating, electroplating, dissolving nickel by electrolysis, heat-treating, tungsten-nickel alloy electroplating, heat-treating, rolling. The mass content of the metal nickel of the matrix material is 88˜92%, and the mass content of the metal tungsten is 8˜12%. The material prepared by the invention has a high specific surface area, excellent thermal conductivity and gas permeability performance, excellent electrical corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. After being prepared as the gas diffusion layer, as the diffusion layer and fuel cell electrode are closely connected, the material can effectively resist the electrochemical corrosion of the diffusion layer caused by the electrochemical reaction and is suitable for the matrix material of the gas diffusion layer.

The invention provides a preparation method of the matrix material for the gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell. The matrix material is obtained on the polyurethane sponge through the following process: conductively treating, electroplating, dissolving nickel by electrolysis, heat-treating, tungsten-nickel alloy electroplating, heat-treating, rolling. The mass content of the metal nickel of the matrix material is 88˜92%, and the mass content of the metal tungsten is 8˜12%. The material prepared by the invention has a high specific surface area, excellent thermal conductivity and gas permeability performance, excellent electrical corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. After being prepared as the gas diffusion layer, as the diffusion layer and fuel cell electrode are closely connected, the material can effectively resist the electrochemical corrosion of the diffusion layer caused by the electrochemical reaction and is suitable for the matrix material of the gas diffusion layer.

A separation membrane for a redox flow battery includes: a protective film formed on each of both surfaces of a sheet substrate along with pores, the sheet substrate having thereon a number of pores communicating between the both surfaces; and an ion-exchange membrane adhered to the protective film, the ion-exchange membrane having a matrix formed of an ion-exchange resin dispersed therein with an inorganic porous powdery body attached with the ion-exchange resin obtained as a result of sulfonating rosin.

A separation membrane for a redox flow battery includes: a protective film formed on each of both surfaces of a sheet substrate along with pores, the sheet substrate having thereon a number of pores communicating between the both surfaces; and an ion-exchange membrane adhered to the protective film, the ion-exchange membrane having a matrix formed of an ion-exchange resin dispersed therein with an inorganic porous powdery body attached with the ion-exchange resin obtained as a result of sulfonating rosin.

A boron-containing proton-exchange solid support may include a proton-exchange solid support comprising an oxygen atom and a tetravalent boron-based acid group comprising a boron atom covalently bonded to the oxygen atom.

A proton exchange membrane includes a porous structural framework and a boron-based acid group bonded to the porous structural framework. The porous structural framework may be formed of an amorphous or crystalline inorganic material and/or a synthetic or natural polymer. The boron-based acid group may be a tetravalent boric acid derivative, such as a cyclic boric acid derivative, borospiranic acid, or a borospiranic acid derivative. The boron-based acid group may be the reaction product of boric acid or a boric acid derivative and a poly-hydroxy compound.

To provide an electrolyte material which has a high proton conductivity and which is excellent in hot water resistance.

An electrolyte material which is formed of a polymer H having units represented by the formula u1 and units based on tetrafluoroethylene, wherein the polymer H has an equivalent weight EW of from 400 to 550 g/eq, and the mass reduction ratio when immersed in hot water at 120° C. for 24 hours is at most 15 mass %:

##STR00001##

wherein Q.sup.11 is a perfluoroalkylene group which may have an etheric oxygen atom, Q.sup.12 is a single bond or a perfluoroalkylene group which may have an etheric oxygen atom, Y.sup.1 is a fluorine atom or the like, s is 0 or 1, R.sup.f1 is a perfluoroalkyl group which may have an etheric oxygen atom, X.sup.1 is an oxygen atom or the like, a is 0 when X.sup.1 is an oxygen atom, and Z.sup.+ is H.sup.+ or the like.

To provide an electrolyte material which has a high proton conductivity and which is excellent in hot water resistance.

An electrolyte material which is formed of a polymer H having units represented by the formula u1 and units based on tetrafluoroethylene, wherein the polymer H has an equivalent weight EW of from 400 to 550 g/eq, and the mass reduction ratio when immersed in hot water at 120° C. for 24 hours is at most 15 mass %:

##STR00001##

wherein Q.sup.11 is a perfluoroalkylene group which may have an etheric oxygen atom, Q.sup.12 is a single bond or a perfluoroalkylene group which may have an etheric oxygen atom, Y.sup.1 is a fluorine atom or the like, s is 0 or 1, R.sup.f1 is a perfluoroalkyl group which may have an etheric oxygen atom, X.sup.1 is an oxygen atom or the like, a is 0 when X.sup.1 is an oxygen atom, and Z.sup.+ is H.sup.+ or the like.