LAUSR

Abstract Achieving high ionic conductivity and alkaline stability of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is critical for anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Here we described a method of preparing perfluorinated comb-shaped cationic polymers containing long-range ordered (LROed) –CF2CF2-(CF2CF2)n–CF2–CF2- main chain with pendant (-CF2CF2SONH-) side chain terminated by long comb-hydrophilic-cationic groups for AEMs application. Super-hydrophobic backbone promoted the formation of defined nano-phase separated channels and the resulted comb-shaped AEMs demonstrated ion conductivity of 88.6  mS cm−1 at 80 °C and kept low water uptake (17.1 wt%) and excellent dimensional stability (7.0%). Chemically robust polymer skeleton reduced hydroxide ion attack at fixed cation group and 91.8% of initial values was retained after Hoffman elimination in 8 M KOH over 16 days at 80 °C. Furthermore, a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) based on perfluorinated-comb AEMs showed a peak power density of 306.1 mW cm−2 at 80 °C in a H2/O2 (CO2-free) fuel cells.