Ion-conducting polymeric materials

A method of preparing an ion-conducting polymeric material in a desired form (hereinafter “said formed polymeric material”), the method comprising:

• (i) selecting a first ion-conducting polymeric material which is crystalline or crystallisable, wherein said first ion-conductive polymeric material is one having a moiety of formula:
• and/or a moiety of formula
• and/or a moiety of formula
• wherein at least some of the units I, II and/or III are functionalized to provide ion-exchange sites, wherein the phenyl moieties in units I, II, and III are independently optionally substituted and optionally cross-linked;
• and wherein m, r, s, t, v, w and z independently represent zero or a positive integer, E and E′ independently represent an oxygen or a sulphur atom or a direct link, G represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, a direct link or a —O—Ph—O— moiety where Ph represents a phenyl group and Ar is selected from one of the following moieties (i)* or (i) to (x) which is bonded via one or more of its phenyl moieties to adjacent moieties;
• (ii) selecting a solvent formulation which can dissolve said first ion-conducting polymeric material and increase its crystallinity, wherein said formulation includes a first solvent part which is water;
• (iii) preparing a composite formulation in a process which includes dissolving first ion-conducting polymeric material in said solvent formulation;
• (iv) forming said composite formulation into a desired form;
• (v) providing conditions for removal of said solvent formulation from said form described in (iv) thereby to prepare said formed polymeric material.