High Performance Ion Exchange Membranes Prepared via Direct Polyacylation of Racemic and (S)‐1,1′‐Binaphthyl‐Based Cationic/Anionic Monomers

Side‐chain‐type sulfonated/quaternized aromatic polyelectrolytes with precisely controlled contents of ionized groups are successfully synthesized via direct polyacylation of sulfonated/quaternized monomers based on 2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (DHBN). Both proton exchange membranes (PEMs) and anion exchange membranes (AEMs) of the corresponding polyelectrolytes exhibit outstanding properties. Proton conductivity (116 mS cm^?1 at 30 °C) higher than Nafion 115 for the PEMs and OH^– conductivity (28.5–53.7 mS cm^?1 at 30 °C) comparable to Tokuyama A901 for the AEMs are accomplished. In addition, the AEMs can withstand 60 days’ aging in 1 mol L^?1 NaOH at 60 °C without degradation, as proved by ¹H NMR. More intriguingly, when starting from optically active (S)‐DHBN instead of racemic DHBN, an enhancement in proton conductivity of PEMs is observed for the first time, which opens a new door to optically active ion exchange membranes.