In order to improve the alkaline stability of polyarylether-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs), the strategy of attaching a hydrophobic side-chain to the backbone is proposed. A series of AEMs which include three original quaternary ammonia AEMs (QAPSF, QAPPSU, and QAPPO) and three hydrophobic side-chain attached AEMs (sQAPSF, sQAPPSU, and sQAPPO) are synthesized. Although a gradual enhancement of chemical stabilities for QAPSF, QAPPSU, and QAPPO is observed by reducing backbone polar groups, degradation of the original QA-type AEMs is still...
