An object of the present invention is to provide an ion-exchange membrane for simply and inexpensively separating and purifying exosomes present in a biological sample such as serum. The invention relates to a cellulose-based ion-exchange membrane containing a cellulose-based polymer having at least one hydroxyl group or acetyl group at the 2-, 3-, or 6-position being replaced with a positively charged compound. The invention also relates to a method for purifying exosomes, including subjecting a sample containing exosomes to membrane permeation by using the cellulose-based ion-exchange membrane to allow for adsorption of the exosomes, bringing the membrane into contact with a washing liquid to remove impurities, and bringing the membrane into contact with an eluent to allow for desorption of the exosomes.

Hydrocarbon proton exchange membranes are disclosed that are composed of a material including a hydrophobic main chain, and acidic side chains. The main chain includes a polyaryl structure that is substantially free of ether linkages and also includes a fluoromethyl substituted carbon. The acidic side chains include a hydrocarbon tether terminated by a strongly acidic group, such as a fluoroalkyl sulfonate group. Chemical stability of the material is increased by removing the ether linkages from the main chain. The hydrophobic main chain and substantially hydrophilic side chains create a phase-separated morphology that affords enhanced transport of protons and water across the membrane even at low relative humidity levels. These materials are advantageous as membranes for use in fuel cells, redox flow batteries, water hydrolysis systems, sensors, electrochemical hydrogen compressors, actuators, water purifiers, gas separators, etc.

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

This invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer resin composition for a moisture-permeable waterproof film, including a thermoplastic elastomer resin composed of a hard segment containing polybutylene terephthalate and a soft segment containing polyethylene glycol and polytetramethylene glycol, wherein the polyethylene glycol is contained in an amount of 30 to 70 wt % and the polytetramethylene glycol is contained in an amount of 1 to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic elastomer resin. A moisture-permeable waterproof film formed of the elastomer composition and a moisture-permeable waterproof fabric configured such that the moisture-permeable waterproof film is stacked on at least one surface of a substrate fiber are also disclosed.

A method of: providing a polymeric material, and inducing optical or acoustic phonons into the material. The inducing is performed by application of an alternating electric field or a dynamic mechanical field. When the method is performed on a polyepoxy thermoset, this may result in a water absorption rate of no more than 0.1 wt. % per 24 hours.

The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a first layer that includes a polymer having a repeat unit with a structure that includes

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where m is between 2 and 100, inclusively, the repeat unit is protonated at at least one of position A) and/or B) and/or sulfonated at at least one of rings 1) and/or 2), R.sub.1 includes at least one of a lone pair of electrons, a covalent bond, hydrogen, and/or a hydrocarbon functional group, R.sub.2 includes at least one of a lone pair of electrons, a covalent bond, hydrogen, and/or a hydrocarbon functional group, and is a covalent bond.

Disclosed are redox flow battery membranes, redox flow batteries incorporating the membranes, and methods of forming the membranes. The membranes include a polybenzimidazole gel membrane that is capable of incorporating a high liquid content without loss of structure that is formed according to a process that includes in situ hydrolysis of a polyphosphoric acid solvent. The membranes are imbibed with a redox flow battery supporting electrolyte such as sulfuric acid and can operate at very high ionic conductivities of about 100 mS/cm or greater. Redox flow batteries incorporating the PBI-based membranes can operate at high current densities of about 100 mA/cm.sup.2 or greater.

A method of production of a channel member for fuel cell use comprising a step of obtaining a sheet-shaped first conductor part 11 containing a carbon material of at least one of carbon nanotubes, granular graphite, and carbon fibers and a first resin, a step of laying a sheet-shaped second conductor part 21 containing a carbon material and a second resin with a lower melting point than the first resin to form a sheet-shaped base part 13, a step of transferring a grooved surface 51 to a surface to form a grooved base part 16 provided with groove part 15, a step of laying a sheet-shaped third conductor part 31 containing a carbon material and a third resin with a lower melting point than the first resin, and a step of integrally joining the grooved base part and the third conductor part by hot melt bonding to cover the groove parts.

The present application relates to a polymer, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electrolyte membrane including the same.

An ion-conducting structure comprises a metal-fibril complex formed by one or more elementary nanofibrils. Each elementary nanofibril can be composed of a plurality of cellulose molecular chains with functional groups. Each elementary nanofibril can also have a plurality of metal ions. Each metal ion can act as a coordination center between the functional groups of adjacent cellulose molecular chains so as to form a respective ion transport channel between the cellulose molecular chains. The metal-fibril complex can comprise a plurality of second ions. Each second ion can be disposed within one of the ion transport channels so as to be intercalated between the corresponding cellulose molecular chains. In some embodiments, the metal-fibril complex is formed as a solid-state structure.