An ion conducting polymer comprising a modified poly(phenylene oxide) is described. In an exemplary modified polymer, a portion of the monomeric units are attached to a sulfonate-substituted arylamino moiety, such as a monovalent derivative of phenoxy aniline trisulfonate (BOATS), to form a monomeric unit with a charged side chain. Ion conducting polymers can also be prepared with polyether-containing side chains. The ion conducting polymer can be used to prepare ion exchange membranes which can be used in a variety of applications, such as in non-aqueous redox flow batteries and related energy storage systems.

Disclosed herein are supramolecular compositions, polyelectrolyte polymers, and polyelectrolyte crystals for proton conductivity prepared from organic ions, the organic ion comprising a molecular hub and arms extending therefrom, wherein the arms comprise a polymerizable moiety. Also disclosed herein are method of making and using the compositions, polymers, and crystals described herein.

Disclosed herein are supramolecular compositions, polyelectrolyte polymers, and polyelectrolyte crystals for proton conductivity prepared from organic ions, the organic ion comprising a molecular hub and arms extending therefrom, wherein the arms comprise a polymerizable moiety. Also disclosed herein are method of making and using the compositions, polymers, and crystals described herein.

Disclosed are a micropore-filled amphoteric membrane for low vanadium ion permeability, a method of manufacturing the same, and a vanadium redox flow battery including the amphoteric membrane. The micropore-filled amphoteric membrane for low vanadium ion permeability minimizes crossover of vanadium ions, which occurs between a catholyte and an anolyte in a redox flow battery, and has low membrane resistance and thus has remarkably improved performance as compared to commercially available ion-exchange membranes such as Nafion, and accordingly, can be effectively used in the manufacture of a redox flow battery. In addition, the micropore-filled amphoteric membrane is continuously manufactured through a roll-to-roll process, and thus the manufacturing process is simple and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced.

Disclosed are a micropore-filled amphoteric membrane for low vanadium ion permeability, a method of manufacturing the same, and a vanadium redox flow battery including the amphoteric membrane. The micropore-filled amphoteric membrane for low vanadium ion permeability minimizes crossover of vanadium ions, which occurs between a catholyte and an anolyte in a redox flow battery, and has low membrane resistance and thus has remarkably improved performance as compared to commercially available ion-exchange membranes such as Nafion, and accordingly, can be effectively used in the manufacture of a redox flow battery. In addition, the micropore-filled amphoteric membrane is continuously manufactured through a roll-to-roll process, and thus the manufacturing process is simple and manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced.

A bifunctional catalyst and a preparation method therefor are provided. The bifunctional catalyst is prepared by providing carbon matrix, adding 0.01-10 mol/L platinum containing solution, 0.01-10 mol/L palladium containing solution, 0.01-10 mol/L silver containing solution, and 0.01-15 mol/L sodium citrate trihydrate solution to the carbon matrix for reacting at 20° C. to 80° C. for 0.5 h to 24 h to obtain a mixed solution, and adding reducing agent to the mixed solution for reacting for 0.5 h to 30 h, and centrifuging and drying so as to obtain the bifunctional catalyst.

A bifunctional catalyst and a preparation method therefor are provided. The bifunctional catalyst is prepared by providing carbon matrix, adding 0.01-10 mol/L platinum containing solution, 0.01-10 mol/L palladium containing solution, 0.01-10 mol/L silver containing solution, and 0.01-15 mol/L sodium citrate trihydrate solution to the carbon matrix for reacting at 20° C. to 80° C. for 0.5 h to 24 h to obtain a mixed solution, and adding reducing agent to the mixed solution for reacting for 0.5 h to 30 h, and centrifuging and drying so as to obtain the bifunctional catalyst.

A polybenzimidazole production method for producing the polybenzimidazole including a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.f is —SO.sub.2—, —O—, —CO—, an alkylene group optionally containing a substituent, or a group represented by the following formula (a):

##STR00002##

two Xs are each individually a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and R.sup.1 is a divalent organic group, the production method including a step (1-1) of polymerizing a tetramine compound and a dicarboxylic acid derivative compound to provide a polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide, and a step (1-2) of dehydrocyclizing the polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide.

A polybenzimidazole production method for producing the polybenzimidazole including a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.f is —SO.sub.2—, —O—, —CO—, an alkylene group optionally containing a substituent, or a group represented by the following formula (a):

##STR00002##

two Xs are each individually a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and R.sup.1 is a divalent organic group, the production method including a step (1-1) of polymerizing a tetramine compound and a dicarboxylic acid derivative compound to provide a polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide, and a step (1-2) of dehydrocyclizing the polybenzimidazole precursor polyamide.

A method of making an alkaline membrane fuel cell assembly is disclosed. The method may include: depositing a first catalyst layer on a first gas diffusion layer to form a first gas diffusion electrode; depositing a second catalyst layer one a second gas diffusion layer to form a second gas diffusion electrode; depositing a thin membrane on at least one of: the first catalyst layer and the second catalyst layer; joining together the first and second gas diffusion electrodes to form the alkaline fuel cell assembly such that the thin membrane is located between the first and second catalyst layers; and sealing the first and second gas diffusion layers, the first and second catalyst layers and the thin membrane from all sides.