The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a first layer that includes a polymer having a repeat unit with a structure that includes ##STR00001##
where m is between 2 and 100, inclusively, the repeat unit is protonated at at least one of position A) and/or B) and/or sulfonated at at least one of rings 1) and/or 2), R.sub.1 includes at least one of a lone pair of electrons, a covalent bond, hydrogen, and/or a hydrocarbon functional group, R.sub.2 includes at least one of a lone pair of electrons, a covalent bond, hydrogen, and/or a hydrocarbon functional group, and is a covalent bond.

An anion exchange membrane is made by mixing 2 trifluoromethyl ketone [nominal] (1.12 g, 4.53 mmol), 1 biphenyl (0.70 g, 4.53 mmol), methylene chloride (3.0 mL), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA) (3.0 mL) to produce a pre-polymer. The pre-polymer is then functionalized to produce an anion exchange polymer. The pre-polymer may be functionalized with trimethylamine in solution with water. The pre-polymer may be imbibed into a porous scaffold material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene to produce a composite anion exchange membrane.