An anion exchange membrane is composed of a copolymer of 1,1-diphenylethylene and one or more styrene monomers, such as 4-tert-butylstyrene. The copolymer includes a backbone substituted with a plurality of ionic groups coupled to phenyl groups on the backbone via hydrocarbyl tethers between about 1 and about 7 carbons in length. High-temperature conditions enabled by these copolymers enhance conductivity performance, making them particularly suitable for use in anion exchange membranes in fuel cells, electrolyzers employing hydrogen, ion separations, etc. The properties of the membranes can be tuned via the degree of functionalization of the phenyl groups and selection of the functional groups, such as quaternary ammonium groups. Several processes can be used to incorporate the desired ionic functional groups into the polymers, such as chloromethylation, radical bromination, Friedel-Crafts acylation and alkylation, sulfonation followed by amination, or combinations thereof.

An anion exchange membrane is composed of a copolymer of 1,1-diphenylethylene and one or more styrene monomers, such as 4-tert-butylstyrene. The copolymer includes a backbone substituted with a plurality of ionic groups coupled to phenyl groups on the backbone via hydrocarbyl tethers between about 1 and about 7 carbons in length. High-temperature conditions enabled by these copolymers enhance conductivity performance, making them particularly suitable for use in anion exchange membranes in fuel cells, electrolyzers employing hydrogen, ion separations, etc. The properties of the membranes can be tuned via the degree of functionalization of the phenyl groups and selection of the functional groups, such as quaternary ammonium groups. Several processes can be used to incorporate the desired ionic functional groups into the polymers, such as chloromethylation, radical bromination, Friedel-Crafts acylation and alkylation, sulfonation followed by amination, or combinations thereof.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to anion exchange membranes and, more particularly, to anion exchange membranes comprising a styrene block copolymer and methods for their manufacture. In one embodiment, the invention provides a polymer according to formula IV, wherein x and y are mol %, QA is or each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is, independently, a linear alkyl chain or a cyclic alkyl chain, and Z is selected from a group consisting of: a linear alkyl chain, a cyclic alkyl chain, and an alkylene ether chain.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to anion exchange membranes and, more particularly, to anion exchange membranes comprising a styrene block copolymer and methods for their manufacture. In one embodiment, the invention provides a polymer according to formula IV, wherein x and y are mol %, QA is or each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is, independently, a linear alkyl chain or a cyclic alkyl chain, and Z is selected from a group consisting of: a linear alkyl chain, a cyclic alkyl chain, and an alkylene ether chain.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to anion exchange membranes and, more particularly, to anion exchange membranes comprising a styrene block copolymer and methods for their manufacture. In one embodiment, the invention provides a polymer according to formula IV, wherein x and y are mol %, QA is or each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is, independently, a linear alkyl chain or a cyclic alkyl chain, and Z is selected from a group consisting of: a linear alkyl chain, a cyclic alkyl chain, and an alkylene ether chain.

Disclosed are methods for producing a downstream product from cellulosic material by: a) contacting the cellulosic material with a polymer and a solvent to form a reaction mixture, where the polymer includes acidic monomers and ionic monomers connected to form a polymeric backbone, and each of the ionic monomers independently comprises at least one nitrogen-containing cationic group or at least one phosphorous-containing cationic group; b) degrading the cellulosic material in the reaction mixture to produce a liquid phase and a solid phase, where the liquid phrase includes one or more sugars, and where the solid phase includes residual cellulosic material; and c) using the one or more sugars to produce the downstream product.

Disclosed are methods for producing a downstream product from cellulosic material by: a) contacting the cellulosic material with a polymer and a solvent to form a reaction mixture, where the polymer includes acidic monomers and ionic monomers connected to form a polymeric backbone, and each of the ionic monomers independently comprises at least one nitrogen-containing cationic group or at least one phosphorous-containing cationic group; b) degrading the cellulosic material in the reaction mixture to produce a liquid phase and a solid phase, where the liquid phrase includes one or more sugars, and where the solid phase includes residual cellulosic material; and c) using the one or more sugars to produce the downstream product.

The electrochemical energy conversion system of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane including a polymer having an aromatic polymer chain and an alkylated substrate including an alkyl chain, and at least one ionic group. The alkylated substrate is bound to at least one aromatic group in the polymer chain via Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the at least one aromatic group. The alkylation reaction utilizes a haloalkylated tertiary alcohol or a haloalkylated alkene as a precursor. In the presence of an acid catalyst, a carbocation is generated in the precursor which reacts with the aromatic rings of the polymer chain. The at least one ionic group is then replaced with a desired cationic or anionic group using a substitution reaction. The membranes exhibit advantageous stability achieved through a simplified and scalable reaction scheme.

The electrochemical energy conversion system of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane including a polymer having an aromatic polymer chain and an alkylated substrate including an alkyl chain, and at least one ionic group. The alkylated substrate is bound to at least one aromatic group in the polymer chain via Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the at least one aromatic group. The alkylation reaction utilizes a haloalkylated tertiary alcohol or a haloalkylated alkene as a precursor. In the presence of an acid catalyst, a carbocation is generated in the precursor which reacts with the aromatic rings of the polymer chain. The at least one ionic group is then replaced with a desired cationic or anionic group using a substitution reaction. The membranes exhibit advantageous stability achieved through a simplified and scalable reaction scheme.

The electrochemical energy conversion system of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane including a polymer having an aromatic polymer chain and an alkylated substrate including an alkyl chain, and at least one ionic group. The alkylated substrate is bound to at least one aromatic group in the polymer chain via Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the at least one aromatic group. The alkylation reaction utilizes a haloalkylated tertiary alcohol or a haloalkylated alkene as a precursor. In the presence of an acid catalyst, a carbocation is generated in the precursor which reacts with the aromatic rings of the polymer chain. The at least one ionic group is then replaced with a desired cationic or anionic group using a substitution reaction. The membranes exhibit advantageous stability achieved through a simplified and scalable reaction scheme.