Patent ID: 7674560

Claim:
An electrochemical cell wherein a membrane comprising a sulfonated polymer comprising in whole or in part cross-linked sulfonyl groups is used as a solid electrolyte, wherein at least a fraction of the cross-linking bonds bear an ionic charge and are of the type: P—SO 2 —Y − (M + )-SO 2 —P′; or P—SO 2 (M + )Y—SO 2 -(Q-SO 2 ) r Y − (M + )SO 2 —P′ wherein P and P′ are the same or different and are part of a polymeric chain; Y comprises N or CR wherein R comprises H, CN, F, SO 2 R 3 , C 1-20 alkyl substituted or unsubstituted; C 1-20 aryl substituted or unsubstituted; C 1-20 alkylene substituted or unsubstituted, wherein the substituent comprises one or more halogen, and wherein the polymer chain comprises one or more substituent F, SO 2 R 3 , aza, oxa, thia or dioxathia; R 3 comprises F, C 1-20 alkyl substituted or unsubstituted; C 1-20 aryl substituted or unsubstituted; C 1-20 alkylene substituted or unsubstituted, wherein the substituent comprises one or more halogens; M + comprises an inorganic or organic cation; Q comprises a divalent radical C 1-20 alkyl, C 1-20 oxaalkyl, C 1-20 azaalkyl, C 1-20 thiaalkyl, C 1-20 aryl or C 1-20 alkylaryl, each being optionally substituted by one or more halogens, and wherein the polymer chain comprises one or more substituents oxa, aza or thia; r is 0 or 1; and the sulfonated polymer is partially or completely fluorinated.