Abstract:
Hybrid membranes based on crystalline titanium dioxide containing fluorine atoms within the crystalline lattice comprising atoms of titanium and oxygen are described; these hybrid membranes are particularly suitable for the production of fuel cells and electrolysers. The titanium dioxide contained in them may be produced by a process comprising the following stages: (a) a titanium ore is reacted with a NH 4 HF 2 aqueous solution of; (b) the aqueous dispersion so obtained is filtered with subsequent separation of a solid residue and an aqueous solution containing titanium salts; (c) the aqueous solution so obtained is subjected to hydrolysis, said hydrolysis comprising a first stage at pH 6.5-8.0 and a second stage at pH 9-11; (d) the aqueous dispersion thus obtained is filtered and the solid residue is subjected to pyrohydrolysis at a maximum temperature of approximately 500°C, preferably approximately 450°C.
Abstract:
A redox flow (RF) battery capable of improving an energy density is provided. An RF battery 100 performs charge and discharge by supplying a positive electrode electrolyte and a negative electrode electrolyte to a positive electrode cell 102 and a negative electrode cell 103, respectively. Each of the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte contains a vanadium (V) ion as active material. At least one of the positive electrode electrolyte and the negative electrode electrolyte further contains another metal ion, for example, a metal ion such as a manganese ion that exhibits a higher redox potential than a V ion or a metal ion such as a chromium ion that exhibits a lower redox potential than a V ion. Even in cases where the RF battery 100 is charged until the state of charge reaches nearly 100%, side reactions such as generation of oxygen gas or hydrogen gas due to water decomposition and oxidation degradation of an electrode can be suppressed since the above-mentioned another metal ion contained together with the V ion is oxidized or reduced in the late stage of charge. Since the utilization rate of the V ion in the electrolyte can be increased by enhancing the state of charge, the energy density of the RF battery 100 can be improved as compared to the conventional RF batteries.
Abstract:
A solid polymer electrolyte for a battery is disclosed. The solid polymer electrolyte includes a first polymer capable of solvating a lithium salt, a lithium salt, and a second polymer which is at least partially miscible with the first polymer or rendered at least partially miscible with the first polymer; at least a portion ofjhe second polymer being crystalline or vitreous at the internal operating temperature of the battery.
Abstract:
This invention provides a polymer solid electrolyte comprising an ion liquid (A) and a block copolymer (B). The block copolymer (B) comprises, as indispensable components, one or more polymer blocks (P) compatible with the ion liquid (A) and one or more polymer blocks (Q) incompatible with the ion liquid (A). The ion liquid (A) and the polymer block (P) have been compatibilized with each other to constitute one phase (X), and the polymer block (Q) constitutes a phase (Y) incompatible with the phase (X). The phase (X) and the phase (Y) are separated from each other by microphase separation. The polymer solid electrolyte has practical ion conductivity and is excellent in the retention of the ion liquid, as well as in heat resistance and mechanical strength. There are also provided an electrochemical device and an actuator element that can rapidly produce a displacement upon response to the application of voltage and, by virtue of the liquid retention and mechanical strength of the polymer solid electrolyte, can be stably operated for a long period of time. Accordingly, the elctrochemical device and the actuator element are suitable for use, for example, in the field of medical equipment, micromachine, industrial robots, and personal robots.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a separation membrane for direct liquid fuel cells, which is composed of a quaternary ammonium-type anion exchange membrane. The quaternary ammonium-type anion exchange membrane is produced as follows: a polymerizable composition containing a styrene having a haloalkyl group, a crosslinking polymerizable monomer, a compound having an epoxy group and an effective amount of a polymerization initiator is brought into contact with a porous film, so that the pores of the porous film are filled with the polymerizable composition that is then polymerized therein; then a quaternary ammonium group is introduced into the bromoalkyl group; and then the counter ion of the quaternary ammonium group is ion-exchanged into a hydroxide ion. Also disclosed is a method for producing the quaternary ammonium-type anion exchange membrane.