Novel polyanionic polymers including families of repeat units, such as maleic, itaconic, and sulfonate repeat units. The polymers are at least tetrapolymers and may be in the acid form or as partial or complete salts. The polymers may be synthesized using free radical initiators in the presence of vanadium compounds. The polymers have a variety of uses, particularly in agricultural contexts.

An ionic liquid compound includes an azepanium-functionalized cation. An electrochemical cell electrolyte for an electrical energy storage device includes the ionic liquid compound, aprotic organic solvent, alkali metal salt and an additive.

The invention is related to a class of hydrophilic polymers each comprising one sole thiol-containing terminal group. The hydrophilic polymers are highly reactive towards azetidinium groups of an azetidinium-containing polymer upon heating and can find particular use in for producing water-soluble highly-branched hydrophilic polymeric material useful for producing water gradient contact lenses.

The invention is related to a class of hydrophilic polymers each comprising one sole thiol-containing terminal group. The hydrophilic polymers are highly reactive towards azetidinium groups of an azetidinium-containing polymer upon heating and can find particular use in for producing water-soluble highly-branched hydrophilic polymeric material useful for producing water gradient contact lenses.

According to the present invention, an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition including a resin P having a repeating unit represented by General Formula (P1) and a compound that generates an acid having a pKa of ?1.40 or more upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; and a resist film, a pattern forming method, and a method for manufacturing an electronic device, each using the composition, are provided. ##STR00001## M.sup.p represents a single bond or a divalent linking group. L.sup.p represents a divalent linking group. X.sup.p represents O, S, or NR.sup.N1. R.sup.N1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group. R.sup.p represents a monovalent organic group.

Pre-ceramic monomer formulations for creating self-propagating polymer waveguides, and a system and method of using the same, is disclosed. The formulation includes a plurality of unsaturated molecules, wherein the unsaturated molecules contain a significant amount of non-carbon atoms, a molecule having structure of RX1-H (e.g., X1=O, S, N), and a photoinitiator. R can also have non-carbon atoms. The system includes a light source, a reservoir having a monomer formulation and a patterning apparatus configured to guide a light beam from the light source into the pre-ceramic monomer formulation to form at least one self-propagating polymer waveguide and can be directly converted to interconnected three-dimensional ceramics.

Pre-ceramic monomer formulations for creating self-propagating polymer waveguides, and a system and method of using the same, is disclosed. The formulation includes a plurality of unsaturated molecules, wherein the unsaturated molecules contain a significant amount of non-carbon atoms, a molecule having structure of RX1-H (e.g., X1=O, S, N), and a photoinitiator. R can also have non-carbon atoms. The system includes a light source, a reservoir having a monomer formulation and a patterning apparatus configured to guide a light beam from the light source into the pre-ceramic monomer formulation to form at least one self-propagating polymer waveguide and can be directly converted to interconnected three-dimensional ceramics.

Novel polyanionic polymers including families of repeat units, such as maleic, itaconic, and sulfonate repeat units. The polymers are at least tetrapolymers and may be in the acid form or as partial or complete salts. The polymers may be synthesized using free radical initiators in the presence of vanadium compounds. The polymers have a variety of uses, particularly in agricultural contexts.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a polymer-functionalized particle for using in isolating and extracting solutes, such as rare earth metals, lithium, and the like. The polymer-functionalized particles exhibit strong resistance to agglomeration and degradation even in high ionic strength and/or temperature environments. A post-particle synthesis method for making the polymer-functionalized particle is disclosed, along with a magnetic separation device and that can be used in system embodiments to facilitate use and regeneration of the polymer-functionalized particles in solute extraction.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a polymer-functionalized particle for using in isolating and extracting solutes, such as rare earth metals, lithium, and the like. The polymer-functionalized particles exhibit strong resistance to agglomeration and degradation even in high ionic strength and/or temperature environments. A post-particle synthesis method for making the polymer-functionalized particle is disclosed, along with a magnetic separation device and that can be used in system embodiments to facilitate use and regeneration of the polymer-functionalized particles in solute extraction.