Poly(styrene-b-vinylphosphonic acid) diblock copolymers have been prepared via sequential anionic polymerization and evaluated as nanostructured polymer electrolytes. The ionic block copolymers were synthesized by first initiating the polymerization of styrene using n-butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran at -78 °C. 1,1-Diphenylethylene was then added to the living polystyryl anions before charging diethyl vinylphosphonate to polymerize the second block. The poly(diethyl phosphonate) block was subsequently completely hydrolyzed to obtain the poly(vinylphosphonic acid) block. Analysis by calorimetry showed two distinct glass transitions of the acidic copolymers, indicating phase separation between the two blocks. The glass transition temperature of the densely phosphonated blocks was strongly influenced by the formation of anhydride links through reversible self-condensation reactions at elevated temperatures. Studies of thin copolymer films by tapping mode atomic force microscopy revealed nanophase-separated morphologies with continuous phosphonated domains. In addition, the acidic block copolymers were found to self-assemble into spherical micellar nanoparticles which, in turn, formed branched arrays of supramolecular "necklace-like" chain structures. Block copolymers equilibrated at 25 °C and 98% relative humidity reached proton conductivities in the order of 30 mS/cm at 130 °C.

Biobased monomers derived from eugenol were copolymerized by emulsion polymerization to produce latexes for adhesive applications. Stable latexes containing ethoxy dihydroeugenyl methacrylate and ethoxy eugenyl methacrylate with high total solids content of 50 wt% were obtained and characterized. Latexes synthesis was carried out using a semi-batch process and latexes with particle diameters in the range of 159 -178 nm were successfully obtained. Glass transition temperature values of the resulting polymers ranged between 32 and 28°C.Furthermore, tack and peel measurements confirmed the possibility to use these latexes in adhesive applications.

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Potential membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell based on crosslinked sulphonated fluorinated polystyrenes (PS) were synthesised in two steps. First, azide‐telechelic polystyrene was obtained by iodine transfer polymerisation of styrene in the presence of 1,6‐diiodoperfluorohexane followed by azido chain‐end functionalisation. Then azide‐telechelic polystyrene was efficiently crosslinked with 1,10‐diazido‐1H,1H,2H,2H,9H,9H,10H,10H‐perfluorodecane under UV irradiation. After 45 min only, almost completion of azide crosslinking could be achieved, resulting in crosslinked membranes with insoluble fractions higher than 95%. The sulphonation of the crosslinked membranes afforded ionic exchange capacities (IECs) ranging from 2.2 to 3.2 meq g–1. The hydration number was shown to be very high (from 30 to 75), depending on both the content of perfluorodecane and of sulphonic acid groups. The morphology of the membranes, assessed by small‐angle X‐ray scattering, was found to be a lamellar‐type structure with two types of ionic domains. For the membrane that exhibited an IEC value of 2.2 meq·g–1, proton conductivity was in the same range as that of Nafion® (120–135 mS·cm–1), whereas the membrane IEC value of 3.2 meq·g–1 showed a proton conductivity higher than that of Nafion® in liquid water from 25 to 80 °C, though a high water uptake.