This work describes the modification of the sulfonyl fluoride precursor of perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) by the conversion of the sulfonyl fluoride group to a bis sulfonylimide group. The usefulness of these new polymers for fuel cell applications includes novel proton exchange membranes, catalyst additives or tie layers designed to be thermally and chemically robust while operating within a fuel cell's harsh environment at higher temperatures.

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Opioid addiction and overdose are at record levels in the United States. This is driven, in part, by their widespread prescription for the treatment of pain, which also increased opportunity for diversion by sensation-seeking users. Despite considerable research on the neurobiology of addiction, treatment options for opioid abuse remain limited. Mood disorders, particularly depression, are often comorbid with both pain disorders and opioid abuse. The endogenous opioid system, a complex neuromodulatory system, sits at the neurobiological convergence point of these three comorbid disease states. We review evidence for dysregulation of the endogenous opioid system as a mechanism for the development of opioid addiction and/or mood disorder. Specifically, individual differences in opioid system function may underlie differences in vulnerability to opioid addiction and mood disorders. We also review novel research, which promises to provide more detailed understanding of individual differences in endogenous opioid neurobiology and its contribution to opioid addiction susceptibility.

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The proton conductivity and water uptake were measured for a series of 3M ionomer membranes with various equivalent weights (EWs) and different acid groups. For the EW variation, the conductivity of PFSA samples with EW as low as 580 g/eq were studied. Results show that conductivity increases with decreasing EW. In particular, at lower EW conductivity dramatically increases at low RH. For 580 EW at 120 o C, the conductivity exceeds the target set by DOE for automotive fuel cells (100 mS/cm). The effect of water content is investigated through water uptake measurements that showed the clear dependence of conductivity on lambda ( ). Moreover, the nature and effects of changes in the morphology are studied with simulations and NMR relaxation and diffusion measurements probing the effect of water content on long vs. short range motions. For the different acid groups, conductivity and water uptake of polymers with sulfonic acid, sulfonyl amide and asymmetric sulfonyl imide end groups were compared.

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