This application relates to new process that utilizes electrodes that incorporate acids that facilitate upgrading of methane and other low molecular weight alkanes to higher order hydrocarbon molecules, such as paraffins, olefins, and aromatics, at temperatures less than 250° C. A primary focus of the invention includes methane conversion to ethylene. The first step of the process includes acid containing electrodes that facilitate the activation of the alkane in the anode layer of the electrochemical reactor. Subsequent steps include the separation of protons from produced longer chain hydrocarbons followed by subsequent electrochemical reduction of the protons to yield hydrogen at the cathode or protons combined with oxygen at the cathode to yield water. The reaction steps in the anode upgrade methane to higher order hydrocarbon products.

Provided are a method for producing a liquid composition which is capable of eliminating clouding of a liquid with cerium (IV) hydroxide particles in a relatively short time, and methods for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane, a catalyst layer and a membrane/electrode assembly, each having excellent durability, in a relatively short time. A method for producing a liquid composition containing a fluoropolymer having sulfonic acid groups, trivalent cerium ions and water, which comprises (1) irradiating a solution containing at least one cerium compound selected from the group consisting of cerium carbonate, cerium hydroxide and cerium oxide, the fluoropolymer and the water, with light at least partially in a wavelength region from 300 to 400 nm so that the ultraviolet irradiance on the surface of the solution is at least 0.1 mW/cm.sup.2 or (2) adding a reducing agent to a solution containing at least one cerium compound selected from the group consisting of cerium carbonate, cerium hydroxide and cerium oxide, the fluoropolymer and the water.

Provided are composite electrolytes having a bio-based gel electrolyte in an ordered structure of a porous solid. In some embodiments, the gel electrolyte includes a glycolate gel, a glycerate gel, a bio-based compound-derived gel or a combination thereof. Also provided are electrochemical systems (electrodeposition), redox flow batteries, fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and lithium-metal batteries including the composite electrolytes, and methods for producing gel electrolytes. In some embodiments, the methods including reacting a polyol, optionally ethylene glycol, propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, or any combination thereof, with a lithium metal and/or a lithium salt, optionally lithium hydroxide, a sodium salt, optionally sodium hydroxide (NaOH), NaTFSI, NaBF.sub.4, or NaPF.sub.6; an aluminum salt; a potassium salt, a magnesium salt; a calcium salt; a zinc salt; or any combination thereof.

Provided are composite electrolytes having a bio-based gel electrolyte in an ordered structure of a porous solid. In some embodiments, the gel electrolyte includes a glycolate gel, a glycerate gel, a bio-based compound-derived gel or a combination thereof. Also provided are electrochemical systems (electrodeposition), redox flow batteries, fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and lithium-metal batteries including the composite electrolytes, and methods for producing gel electrolytes. In some embodiments, the methods including reacting a polyol, optionally ethylene glycol, propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, or any combination thereof, with a lithium metal and/or a lithium salt, optionally lithium hydroxide, a sodium salt, optionally sodium hydroxide (NaOH), NaTFSI, NaBF.sub.4, or NaPF.sub.6; an aluminum salt; a potassium salt, a magnesium salt; a calcium salt; a zinc salt; or any combination thereof.

Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane having high flexibility, high ionic conductivity, and excellent mechanical durability, a method for manufacturing same, and an electrochemical device comprising same. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention comprises a polymer electrolyte material, wherein the polymer electrolyte material comprises: an ion conductor having an ion-exchange group; and an organic compound which binds to the ion-exchange group via an ionic bond or a hydrogen bond, thereby allowing the polymer electrolyte material to have an ionic crosslink structure or a hydrogen bond crosslink structure.

Disclosed are a polymer electrolyte membrane having high flexibility, high ionic conductivity, and excellent mechanical durability, a method for manufacturing same, and an electrochemical device comprising same. The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention comprises a polymer electrolyte material, wherein the polymer electrolyte material comprises: an ion conductor having an ion-exchange group; and an organic compound which binds to the ion-exchange group via an ionic bond or a hydrogen bond, thereby allowing the polymer electrolyte material to have an ionic crosslink structure or a hydrogen bond crosslink structure.

The present disclosure relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for medium and high temperature, a preparation method thereof and a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell including the same, more particularly to a technology of preparing a composite membrane including an inorganic phosphate nanofiber incorporated into a phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymer membrane by adding an inorganic precursor capable of forming a nanofiber in a phosphoric acid solution when preparing phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole and using the same as a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane which is thermally stable even at high temperatures of 200-300° C. without degradation of phosphoric acid and has high ion conductivity.

The present disclosure relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for medium and high temperature, a preparation method thereof and a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell including the same, more particularly to a technology of preparing a composite membrane including an inorganic phosphate nanofiber incorporated into a phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymer membrane by adding an inorganic precursor capable of forming a nanofiber in a phosphoric acid solution when preparing phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole and using the same as a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane which is thermally stable even at high temperatures of 200-300° C. without degradation of phosphoric acid and has high ion conductivity.

An electrolyte membrane is described that has improved bondability with a catalyst layer and that achieves good power generation performance, without the electrolyte membrane undergoing a physical treatment and without any loss of surface modification effect, where the electrolyte membrane comprises a polymer electrolyte and a nonionic fluorochemical surfactant.

An electrolyte membrane is described that has improved bondability with a catalyst layer and that achieves good power generation performance, without the electrolyte membrane undergoing a physical treatment and without any loss of surface modification effect, where the electrolyte membrane comprises a polymer electrolyte and a nonionic fluorochemical surfactant.