The present specification relates to a compound including an aromatic ring, a polymer electrolyte membrane including the same, a membrane-electrode assembly including the polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel cell including the membrane-electrode assembly, and a redox flow battery including the polymer electrolyte membrane.

A multi-acid polymer disclosed herein has the formula

##STR00001##

wherein R is one or more units of a non-SOF.sub.2 or non-SO.sub.2Cl portion of a polymer precursor in sulfonyl fluoride or sulfonyl chloride form, X is a non-sulfonyl halide group of a multi-sulfonyl halide compound having a minimum of two acid giving groups, and Y is remaining sulfonyl halide groups of the multi-sulfonyl halide compound.

An object of the invention is to provide an organic semiconductor element having high mobility and excellent temporal stability under high humidity, and a manufacturing method thereof. Another object is to provide a novel compound suitable for an organic semiconductor. Still another object is to provide an organic semiconductor film having high mobility and excellent temporal stability under high humidity and a composition for forming an organic semiconductor film that can suitably form the organic semiconductor film.

The organic semiconductor element according to the invention includes an organic semiconductor layer containing an organic semiconductor having a repeating unit represented by Formula 1.

##STR00001##

To provide a water-soluble polythiophene used as an electrically conductive material, and its production method. A polythiophene comprising at least one type of structural units selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by the formula (1), structural units represented by the formula (2), structural units represented by the formula (3), structural units represented by the formula (4), structural units represented by the formula (5) and structural units represented by the formula (6). The polythiophene is obtained by polymerizing at least one thiophene compound selected from the group consisting of a thiophene compound represented by the formula (15), a thiophene compound represented by the formula (16) and a thiophene compound represented by the formula (17) in water or an alcohol solvent in the presence of an oxidizing agent.

Methods and devices are provided for pre-treatment of a sample containing microbial cells. In some embodiments, the pre-treatment of the sample is performed via the initial selective lysis, within a sample pre-treatment vessel, of non-microbial cells, such as blood cells, and the subsequent centrifugal separation of the sample to remove the resulting debris and concentrate the microbial cells. An immiscible and dense cushioning liquid may be included for collecting the microbial cells adjacent to the liquid interface formed by the cushioning liquid upon centrifugation of the pre-treatment vessel. After removal of a substantial quantity of the supernatant, resuspension of the collected microbial cells, and re-establishment of the cushioning liquid interface, at least a portion of the remaining suspension may be removed without substantially removing the cushioning liquid. One or more intermediate wash cycles may be performed prior to extraction of the remaining suspension, which provides a “pretreated” sample.

The present invention relates to a resin composition including a substance capable of reacting reversibly with a carbon dioxide gas, and a hydrocarbon-based polymer; a carbon dioxide gas separation membrane obtained from the resin composition; a carbon dioxide gas separation membrane module including the separation membrane; and a carbon dioxide gas separation apparatus including at least one type of the module.

Water solvated polymeric dyes having a deep ultraviolet excitation spectrum are provided. The subject polymeric dyes include a light harvesting multichromophore having conjugation-modifying repeat units incorporated into the polymer backbone to provide segments of π-conjugated co-monomers having limited π-conjugation between segments. Polymeric tandem dyes are also provided that further include a signaling chromophore covalently linked to the multichromophore in energy-receiving proximity therewith. Also provided are labelled specific binding members that include the subject water solvated polymeric dyes. Methods of evaluating a sample for the presence of a target analyte and methods of labelling a target molecule in which the subject polymeric dyes find use are also provided. Systems and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

To provide a composition for surface treatment capable of treating a surface of a polished object to be polished having both of a silicon-silicon bond and a nitrogen-silicon bond by sufficiently removing defects on the surface of the polished object to be polished. The composition for surface treatment contains a nonionic water-soluble polymer (A) having a main chain including only a carbon atom or a main chain consisting of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom, and an anionic water-soluble polymer (B) having a main chain including only a carbon atom and a side chain having a sulfonic acid group or a group having a salt thereof or a carboxyl group or a group having a salt thereof, and being bonded to the main chain including only a carbon atom, and the composition is used for surface treatment of a polished object to be polished containing a silicon-silicon bond and a nitrogen-silicon bond and a pH of the composition is less than 9.0.

A method for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor is provided. A conductive polymer solution is applied onto a porous main body. The porous main body includes a porous electrode body having an electrode material and a dielectric layer covering an outer surface of the electrode material. The conductive polymer solution contains conductive polymer particles whose average particle size ranges from 0.5 nm to 50 nm. A solid electrolyte is formed to completely or partially cover a surface of the dielectric layer. A material of the conductive polymer particles includes at least one of polythiophene having at least one sulfonic acid group and polyselenophene having at least one sulfonic acid group. An electrical conductivity of a dry membrane formed from the conductive polymer particles is higher than 25 S/cm. An amount of metal cations in the conductive polymer solution is less than 500 mg/kg.

A method for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor is provided. A crosslinking agent is applied onto a capacitor body. A solution containing a conjugated polymer is applied onto the capacitor body after applying the crosslinking agent. A part of a solvent of the solution is removed, so as to form a polymer outer layer onto the capacitor body. The capacitor body includes an electrode body, an electrode material, a dielectric layer, and a solid electrolyte. The electrode material is formed on the electrode body. A surface of the electrode material is covered by the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is covered by the solid electrolyte. The electrode body or the solid electrolyte is formed from at least one of polythiophene having at least one sulfonic acid group and polyselenophene having at least one sulfonic acid group.