| Abstract: | The present invention relates to functionalized polymers including a
poly(phenylene) structure. In some embodiments, the polymers and
copolymers of the invention include a highly localized concentration of
acidic moieties, which facilitate proton transport and conduction through
networks formed from these polymers. In addition, the polymers can
include functional moieties, such as electron-withdrawing moieties, to
protect the polymeric backbone, thereby extending its durability. Such
enhanced proton transport and durability can be beneficial for any high
performance platform that employs proton exchange polymeric membranes,
such as in fuel cells or flow batteries. |