Poly(phenylene) with high ion selectivity for use in anion exchange membranes

Abstract

A method for synthesizing a poly(phenylene) with high ion selectivity comprises dissolving an alkyl halide poly(phenylene) in a polar aprotic solvent to form a nonaqueous solution and adding an anhydrous nucleophile to the nonaqueous solution to replace the halide of the alkyl halide poly(phenylene) with a cationic group of the nucleophile. The poly(phenylene) can be used in anion exchange membranes.