Method for Producing a Polymer, in Particular for a Membrane, Polymer, Membrane and Use of a Membrane

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The invention provides a novel method for creating advanced polymers intended especially for use in membranes. This process involves synthesizing polymers from specific aromatic compounds (phenylenes) and acetal/ketal/phosphine starting materials using the polyhydroxyalkylation (PHA) reaction. The resulting polymers, which may be fluorine-free and customizable via further chemical modifications, are designed to yield membranes with optimized properties for electrochemical applications, such as enhanced chemical and mechanical stability and improved conductivity.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Proton or anion exchange membranes in fuel cells (including low-temperature and direct alcohol fuel cells)
• Ion-selective membranes for redox flow batteries, particularly vanadium redox-flow batteries
• Separator membranes in conventional batteries to improve performance and longevity
• Electrolyte membranes in electrolyzers for hydrogen production
• Membranes for electrodialysis, diffusion dialysis, and Donnan dialysis for industrial separations or water treatment
• Ion-exchange membranes in electrochemical synthesis processes
• Advanced material platforms for custom membrane design via post-synthetic modification

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables production of membranes with enhanced chemical and mechanical stability, increasing lifespan and reliability in demanding environments
• Allows creation of fluorine-free polymers, reducing environmental impact and enhancing alkaline stability
• Flexibility to tailor polymer and membrane properties by modifying or blending starting materials and post-synthetic treatments
• Yields thin, highly conductive membranes suitable for modern, efficient electrochemical devices
• Supports high-performance energy storage and conversion (e.g., batteries and fuel cells) with improved ion-selectivity and conductivity
• Potential for lower manufacturing and material costs due to alternative synthesis routes
• Scalable method compatible with various functional group modifications, broadening end-use versatility

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a polymer, in particular for a membrane, comprising the following steps: - providing a first starting material, which contains or consists of phenylene compounds; - providing a second starting material, which contains or consists of acetal compounds and/or ketal compounds and/or phosphines with carbonyl groups; and - synthesizing a polymer from the starting materials by way of polyhydroxyalkylation (PHA).