Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L79/00—Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing nitrogen with or without oxygen or carbon only, not provided for in groups C08L61/00 - C08L77/00
  • C08L79/02—Polyamines
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F26/00—Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by a single or double bond to nitrogen or by a heterocyclic ring containing nitrogen
  • C08F26/02—Homopolymers and copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by a single or double bond to nitrogen or by a heterocyclic ring containing nitrogen by a single or double bond to nitrogen
  • C08F26/04—Diallylamine
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L79/00—Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing nitrogen with or without oxygen or carbon only, not provided for in groups C08L61/00 - C08L77/00
  • C08L79/04—Polycondensates having nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings in the main chain; Polyhydrazides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D71/00—Semi-permeable membranes for separation processes or apparatus characterised by the material; Manufacturing processes specially adapted therefor
  • B01D71/06—Organic material
  • B01D71/76—Macromolecular material not specifically provided for in a single one of groups B01D71/08 - B01D71/74
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/0008—Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59
  • C08K5/0016—Plasticisers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/04—Oxygen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/10—Esters; Ether-esters
  • C08K5/109—Esters; Ether-esters of carbonic acid, e.g. R-O-C(=O)-O-R
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/04—Oxygen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/15—Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen in the ring
  • C08K5/156—Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen in the ring having two oxygen atoms in the ring
  • C08K5/1575—Six-membered rings
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/102—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer
  • H01M8/1023—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the chemical structure of the main chain of the ion-conducting polymer having only carbon, e.g. polyarylenes, polystyrenes or polybutadiene-styrenes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1039—Polymeric electrolyte materials halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1041—Polymer electrolyte composites, mixtures or blends
  • H01M8/1046—Mixtures of at least one polymer and at least one additive
  • H01M8/1051—Non-ion-conducting additives, e.g. stabilisers, SiO2 or ZrO2
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1058—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by a porous support having no ion-conducting properties
  • H01M8/106—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by a porous support having no ion-conducting properties characterised by the chemical composition of the porous support
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
  • H01M8/1016—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes characterised by the electrolyte material
  • H01M8/1018—Polymeric electrolyte materials
  • H01M8/1069—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the manufacturing processes
  • H01M8/1072—Polymeric electrolyte materials characterised by the manufacturing processes by chemical reactions, e.g. insitu polymerisation or insitu crosslinking
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2323/00—Details relating to membrane preparation
  • B01D2323/15—Use of additives
  • B01D2323/20—Plasticizers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2325/00—Details relating to properties of membranes
  • B01D2325/16—Membrane materials having positively charged functional groups
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D2325/00—Details relating to properties of membranes
  • B01D2325/26—Electrical properties
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0017—Non-aqueous electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0065—Solid electrolytes
  • H01M2300/0082—Organic polymers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
  • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
  • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

• This invention relates to solid ionically conductive polymers, structures and fuel cells incorporating same, and associated methods of production and use.
• conductive polymers A wide range of ionically conductive polymers are known, with possibly the most famous example being Nafion (RTM).
• Nafion (RTM) is a conductive membrane that conducts via cation conduction. Whilst Nafion (RTM) has achieved significant commercial success, there are problems associated with the material. In particular, Nafion (RTM) can only achieve useful conductivities in a swollen, hydrated state in which the material achieves volumes approximately 10 times greater than the volume associated with its unhydrated state. Thus, Nafion (RTM) membranes require constant hydration in order to function as conductive membranes and cannot operate conductively at high temperatures, eg, at greater than 100°C.
• the present invention in at least some of its embodiments, provides improvements to the prior art conductive polymers discussed above. Furthermore, the present invention can provide advantageous ways of applying conductive polymers and provides a class of conductive polymers that conduct by anionic conduction.
• a solid ionically conductive polymer having repeat units of a quaternary amine and including a plasticiser in an amount sufficient to render the polymer noncrystalline thereby increasing conductivity.
• the plasticiser may be present as an additive to the polymer.
• a preferred plasticiser of this sort is propylene carbonate.
• the polymer may contain between 5 and 60% by weight plasticiser additive. In order to produce polymers with reasonable mechanical strength, it is preferred that the polymer contains between 5 and 30% by weight plasticiser additive. For higher conductivities, the polymer may contain between 25 and 60% by weight plasticiser additive. In general, . polymers of this type exhibit somewhat poorer mechanical properties, but this may be acceptable or even desirable in certain applications. In some instances the polymer may contain more than 60% by weight plastic additive. Alternatively the polymer may be self-plasticising. The polymer can be self- plasticising in numerous ways.
• This polymer may include an anion present as a counterion to the quaternary amine, and the anion may act as a plasticiser.
• the quaternary amine itself acts as a self-plasticiser.
• larger anions and/or cationic quaternary amines render the polymer less likely to adopt a crystalline configuration.
• the polymer may contain a plurality of different plasticisers.
• the polymer may conduct by anionic conduction. It has been found that it is possible to provide anionically conducting polymers which exhibit conductivity comparable to H + conducting membranes. Alternatively, the polymer may conduct by cationic conduction, which may be proton conduction.
• the polymer is formed from the polymerisation of a monomer which comprises a group of sub-formula (I)
• R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from (CR 7 R 8 ) n , or a group CR 9 R 10 , CR 7 R 8 CR 9 R 10 Or CR 9 R 10 CR 7 R 8 where n is 0, 1 or 2, R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo or hydrocarbyl, and either one of R 9 or R 10 is hydrogen and the other is an electron withdrawing group, or R 9 and R 10 together form an electron withdrawing group, and
• R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from CH or CR 11 where R 11 is an electron withdrawing group; the dotted lines indicate the presence or absence of a bond, X 1 is a group CX 2 X 3 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is absent and a group CX 2 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is present, Y 1 is a group CY 2 Y 3 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is absent and a group CY 2 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is present, and X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and
• Y 3 are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine or other substituents
• R 1 is selected from hydrogen, halo, nitro or hydrocarbyl, optionally substituted or interposed with functional groups;
• Z is an anion of charge m.
• the polymer is formed from the polymerisation of a dienyl quaternary amine, most preferably from polymerisation of a starting material which comprises a group of sub-formula (II)
• R 2 and R 3 are independently selected from (CR 7 R 8 ) n , or a group CR 9 R 10 , CR 7 R 8 CR 9 R 10 or CR 9 R 10 CR 7 R 8 where n is 0, 1 or 2, R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo or hydrocarbyl, and either one of R 9 or R 10 is hydrogen and the other is an electron withdrawing group, or R 9 and R 10 together form an electron withdrawing group, and
• R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from CH or CR 11 where R 11 is an electron withdrawing group; the dotted lines indicate the presence or absence of a bond, X 1 is a group CX 2 X 3 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is absent and a group CX 2 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is present, Y 1 is a group CY 2 Y 3 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is absent and a group
• CY 2 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is present, and X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 are independently selected from hydrogen and fluorine; and R 1 is hydrogen or hydrocarbyl, and Z is an anion of charge m.
• the expression "in the substantial absence of solvent” means that there is either no solvent present or there is insufficient solvent present to completely dissolve the reagents, although a small amount of a diluent may be present to allow the reagents to flow.
• Conditions under which polymerisation occurs include the influence of radiation or an electron beam, heat or the presence of a chemical initiator. Radiation or electron beam induced polymerisation is suitably effected in the substantial absence of a solvent.
• R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from fluoro, chloro, alkyl or H. In the case of alkyl, methyl is most preferred.
• At least one, and possibly all, of X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 is a substituent other than hydrogen or fluorine.
• at least one, and possibly all, of X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group.
• it is preferred that at least one, and most preferably all, of X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 is an optionally substituted alkyl group.
• Particularly preferred examples are C 1 and C 4 alkyl groups, especially methyl or ethyl.
• X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 are aryl and/or heterocyclic, such as pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, or a pyridine or pyrimidine containing group.
• X 1 and Y 1 are groups CX 2 X 3 and CY 1 Y 2 respectively and the dotted lines represent an absence of a bond.
• preferred compounds are those of sub-formula (IA)
• R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 are as defined above.
• One or more such starting materials may be polymerised together. When more than one starting material is used, a copolymer will result.
• the resulting polymer will comprise polyacetylene chains. This can lead to a conjugated system with the possibility of associated conductivity.
• the starting material is one which will cyclopolymerise in the sort of conditions used in polymer production.
• This may comprise the application of radiation, such as UV radiation, where necessary in the presence of a photoinitiator, the application of heat (which may be in form of IR radiation), where necessary in the presence of an initiator, by the application of other sorts of initiator such as chemical initiators, or by initiation using an electron beam.
• radiation such as UV radiation
• heat which may be in form of IR radiation
• an initiator by the application of other sorts of initiator such as chemical initiators, or by initiation using an electron beam.
• chemical initiator refers to compounds which can initiate polymerisation such as free radical initiators and ion initiators such as cationic or anionic initiators as are understood in the art.
• the starting materials polymerise under the influence of ultraviolet radiation or thermal radiation or both.
• Cyclopolymerisation may take place either spontaneously or in the presence of a suitable initiator.
• suitable initiators include 2, 2' - azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), aromatic ketones such as benzophenones in particular acetophenone; chlorinated acetophenones such as di- or tri-chloracetophenone; dialkoxyacetophenones such as dimethoxyacetophenones (sold under the trade name "Irgacure 651”) dialkylhydroxyacetophenones such as dimethylhydroxyacetophenone (sold under the trade name "Darocure 1173"); substituted dialkylhydroxyacetophenone alkyl ethers such as compounds of formula
• AIBN 2, 2' - azobisisobutyronitrile
• aromatic ketones such as benzophenones in particular acetophenone
• chlorinated acetophenones such as di- or tri-chloracetophenone
• dialkoxyacetophenones such as
• R y is alkyl and in particular 2, 2-dimethylethyl
• R x is hydroxyl or halogen such as chloro
• R p and R q are independently selected from alkyl or halogen such as chloro
• alkyl or halogen such as chloro
• 1-benzoylcyclohexanol-2 sold under the trade name "Irgacure 184"
• benzoin or derivatives such as benzoin acetate, benzoin alkyl ethers in particular benzoin butyl ether, dialkoxybenzoins such as dimethoxybenzoin or deoxybenzoin
• dibenzyl ketone acyloxime esters such as methyl or ethyl esters of acyloxime (sold under the trade name "Quantaqure PDO”); acylphosphine oxides, acylphosphonates such as
• R z is alkyl and Ar is an aryl group; dibenzoyl disulphides such as 4, 4'- dialkylbenzoyldisuphide; diphenyldithiocarbonate; benzophenone; 4, 4'-bis (N, N-dialkyamino) benzophenone; fluorenone; thioxanthone; benzil; or a compound of formula
• Ar is an aryl group such as phenyl and R z is alkyl such as methyl (sold under the trade name "Speedcure BMDS").
• alkyl refers to straight or branched chain alkyl groups, suitably containing up to 20 and preferably up to 6 carbon atoms.
• alkenyl and alkynyl refer to unsaturated straight or branched chains which include for example from 2-20 carbon atoms, for example from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Chains may include one or more double to triple bonds respectively.
• aryl refers to aromatic groups such as phenyl or naphthyl.
• hydrocarbyl refers to any structure comprising carbon and hydrogen atoms.
• these may be alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl such as phenyl or napthyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or cycloalkynyl.
• aryl such as phenyl or napthyl
• arylalkyl cycloalkyl
• cycloalkenyl or cycloalkynyl Suitably they will contain up to 20 and preferably up to 10 carbon atoms.
• heteroatom such as oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen.
• Examples of such groups include furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, thiazolyl,- tetrazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, benzthiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothieny! or benzofuryl.
• heteroatom refers to non-carbon atoms such as oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur atoms. Where the nitrogen atoms are present, they will generally be present as part of an amino residue so that they will be substituted for example by hydrogen or alkyl.
• amide is generally understood to refer to a group of formula C(O)NR a R b where R a and R b are hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group.
• sulphonamide will refer to a group of formula S(O) 2 NR a R b .
• electron withdrawing group includes within its scope atomic substituents such as halo, e.g. fluro, chloro and bromo.
• R 11 is an electron withdrawing group, it is suitably acyl such as acetyl, nitrile or nitro.
• X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 and Y 2 are all hydrogen.
• Suitable groups R a include hydrogen or methyl, in particular hydrogen.
• the invention includes within its scope oligomers, in which instances y is typically between 2 and 15, preferably between 5 and 12. Higher molecular weight polymers are also within the scope of the invention, in which instance y can be in excess of 100.
• z m- may be a halide ion, a boride ion, triflate, PF 6 " , HSO 4 " , H 2 PO 4 " , BF 4 " , NO 3 " , or a carboxylic acid ester, preferably a carboxylic acid ester having an alkyl or a per-fluorinated alkyl group of greater than five carbon atoms, most preferably octanoate or per-fluoro octanoate.
• anions having hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl moieties Anions having branched hydrocarbyl moieties may disrupt the formation of crystals and hence increase non-crystallinity.
• X 1 and Y 1 may represent CX 2 X 3 and CY 2 Y 3 respectively, the dotted bonds being absent and X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 and Y 3 being all hydrogen.
• the starting material may be a compound of structure (III)
• r is an integer of 1 or more
• R 6 is a bridging group, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, a perhaloalkyl group, a siloxane group or an amide, of valency r.
• Monomers of this type may be represented as structure (IV) where X 2 , X 3 , Y 2 , Y 3 , R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are as defined in relation to formula (I) above, R 6' is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group, a perhaloalkyl group, a siloxane group or an amide.
• the invention may also be applied to other sorts of polymers; for example, where in the compounds of formula (III), r is greater than one, polymerisation can result in polymer networks.
• Particular examples are compounds of formula (III) as defined above, where R 6 is a bridging group and r is an integer of 2 or more, for example from 2 to 8 and preferably from 2 - 4. Embodiments in which r is two are particularly preferred.
• networks are formed whose properties maybe selected depending upon the precise nature of the R 6 group, the amount of chain terminator present and the polymerisation conditions employed.
• R 1 may be an alkyl group, preferably having less than three carbon atoms, most preferably methyl. Alternatively, R 1 may be H. Embodiments in which R 1 is H may be useful for providing proton conduction mechanisms.
• R 6 or R 6' comprises a straight or branched chain alkyl group, optionally substituted or interposed with functional groups.
• R 6 or R 6' may be an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having four or more carbon atoms.
• R 6 or R 6 is an alkyl group, most preferably a straight chain alkyl group, although R 6 or R 6' may be a branched chain alkyl group.
• R 6 or R 6 ' may have between five and twenty carbon atoms, preferably between eight and fourteen carbon atoms, most preferably ten carbon atoms.
• the starting material is a compound
• the starting material may be a compound of formula (Vl)
• Z m' may be PF 6 " , per-fluoro octanoate or triflate.
• R 6 or R 6 may comprise a perhalo hydrocarbyl group, preferably a perfluoro hydrocarbyl group.
• R 6 or R 6' may comprise a perhaloalkyl group such as a perfluoroalkyl group, for example of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as a perhalomethyl group, in particular perfluoromethyl.
• R 6 or R 6 may comprise a sulfonated group and/or an imidazole containing group.
• Suitable bridging groups include those found in polyethylenes, polypropylenes, nylons, as listed in Table 1. Further examples of bridging groups can be found in WO 00/06610. Table 1
• the invention includes the possibility of producing copolymers where another monomeric compound, for example one which is not of formula (I), is mixed with the compound of formula (I) prior to polymerisation.
• Such monomers are known in the art.
• the solid ionically conductive polymer may be provided in a composite structure with one or more other materials in order to produce desired mechanical and/or electrochemical properties.
• the solid ionically conductive polymer may be utilised in combination with one or more inorganic materials such as SiO 2 , tungsten compounds, and glass fibre.
• the monomer is preferably of the following formula
• R 6 is as previously defined and may be a group R 6 as previously defined.
• the solid ionically conductive polymer may be self-supporting, such as in the form of a membrane, or may be used in conjunction with a substrate.
• a substrate and a solid ionically conductive polymer according to the first aspect of the invention located therein or thereon.
• the substrate may be a solid substrate, or a structure having voids therein, such as a mesh, a web or a porous substrate.
• a mesh or web structure can be used to reinforce the polymer.
• Nylon mesh or web structures may be employed.
• the solid ionically conductive polymer may be located in the pores of the substrate.
• the plasticiser may be less prone to washing out of the polymer in such structures.
• the structure can be produced by soaking an appropriate monomer into the pores of the substrate and polymerising in situ. The plasticiser may be present with the monomer when the polymerisation takes place.
• the substrate is a ceramic or a zeolite.
• conductive materials can be provided which are tough, can operate at high temperatures and do not require the presence of water to conduct.
• the structure may be in the form of an ionically conductive membrane.
• Such conductive membranes have numerous applications, such as in fuel cells.
• a method of producing a solid ionically conductive polymer having repeat units of a quaternary amine including the steps of polymerising a quaternary amine starting material and providing a plasticiser in the polymer present in an amount sufficient to render the polymer non-crystalline thereby increasing conductivity.
• the quaternary amine starting material may be sprayed onto a target structure prior to the step of polymerising.
• This is an extremely effective and practical way of applying a conductive coating.
• the step of polymerising may be effected by the application of radiation, where necessary in the presence of an initiator.
• the polymerisation is effected by the application of ultraviolet radiation.
• the step of polymerising may be effected by the application of heat, where necessary in the presence of an initiator.
• the plasticiser is mixed with the starting material prior to the step of polymerising.
• the plasticiser may be added to the polymer after or during the step of polymerising.
• WO 01/40814 and WO 01/74919 disclose the preparation of monomers and polymers of the dienyl type.
• International Publication WO 01/74919 also discloses the preparation of monomers and polymers formed from quaternary ammonium species having a single vinyl type group.
• a method of producing a structure including the steps of providing a porous substrate, introducing a quaternary amine starting material and a plasticiser into the pores of the substrate, and polymerising the starting material to produce a solid ionically conductive polymer, the plasticiser being present in an amount sufficient to render the polymer non-crystalline thereby increasing conductivity.
• a fuel cell including a solid ionically conductive polymer according to the first aspect of the invention.
• the fuel cell may include an ionically conductive membrane as described in respect of the second aspect of the invention, preferably a proton conductive membrane.
• Example 4 The mixture of quaternary amine 1 , photoiniator and propylene carbonate prepared in Example 2 was added to a zeolite and polymerised in situ by exposure to UV radiation. The zeolite exhibited conductivity.
• Example 4 The mixture of quaternary amine 1 , photoiniator and propylene carbonate prepared in Example 2 was added to a zeolite and polymerised in situ by exposure to UV radiation. The zeolite exhibited conductivity.
• Example 4 Example 4
• An analogue of the target molecule 1 was prepared in which the anion is per-fluoro octanoate.
• the analogue was prepared using the method described in Example 1 , except that aqueous perfluorooctanoic acid was used instead of hydroperfluoric acid.
• the analogue was polymerised using the methodology of Example 2, and the resulting polymer exhibited a marginally higher conductivity than the polymer of Example 2.
• Example 5 An analogue of the target molecule 1 was prepared in which the anion is triflate.
• the analogue was prepared using the method described in Example 1 , except that triflic acid (CF 3 SO 3 H) was used instead of hydroperfluoric acid.
• the analogue was polymerised using the methodology of Example 2, and the resulting polymer exhibited a marginally higher conductivity than the polymer of Example 2.
• the reaction scheme of bromoalkane, diallylamine and K 2 CO 3 is a general one that can be used to prepare monomers for subsequent polymerisation and use according to the invention.
• Bisubstituted bromoalkanes (particularly where the bromo substitution is at either end of the alkyl chain) are used to produce monomers having two dienyl end groups.
• Singly substituted bromo alkanes are used to produce monomers having one dienyl end group.

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