Proton exchange membrane material and methods of making the same

A method of making a proton exchange membrane material comprising:

• reacting an aryl compound with a trifluoroalkyl ketone in the presence of a strong acid to form a haloalkylated precursor polymer;
• and
• grafting an acidic side chain on the precursor polymer to form a block copolymer;
• wherein the aryl compound includes:
• or combinations thereof.

An electrochemical energy conversion system comprising:

• an anode;
• a cathode;
• and
• a proton exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode,
• wherein the proton exchange membrane includes a polymer including the structure according to formula III:
• wherein each R4 includes hydrogen, a haloalkyl sulfonate group, a halophenyl sulfonate group, an alkyl sulfonate group, a sulfonate group, an alkyl phosphonate group, an alkyl carboxylate group, or a substituted hydrocarbon including at least one haloalkyl sulfonate group, halophenyl sulfonate group, alkyl sulfonate group, sulfonate group, alkyl phosphonate group, or alkyl carboxylate group;
• at least one R4 includes at least one acidic group;
• and
• r is greater than at least about 100.