Copolymers containing pendant ionomeric carbosilane groups

1. A cationic polymer comprising monomeric units of Formula (V):

wherein

an asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to another monomeric unit;

R is hydrogen or methyl;

each R 2 is independently an alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof;

L is a linking group comprising an alkylene group; and

+R 3 is a cationic nitrogen-containing group that is free of any N—H bonds,

wherein L does not include any siloxane groups.

2. The cationic polymer according to claim 1 , having from 10 to 50 mole percent of monomeric units of formula (V) based on total moles of monomeric units in the cationic polymer.

3. The cationic polymer according claim 1 further comprising monomeric units derived from styrene-type monomers, 1,4-butadiene, 3,4-isoprene, cis-1,4-isoprene, trans-1,4-isoprene, or combinations thereof.

4. The cationic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein L optionally further comprises an arylene group, an —Si(R 2 ) 2 — groups, another alkylene group, or a combination thereof.

5. The cationic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein L optionally further comprises one or more —Si(R 2 ) 2 — groups.

6. The cationic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein +R 3 is derived from a nitrogen-containing base that is free of a N—H bond, the nitrogen-containing base being a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, a guanidine compound, or a trialkylamine compound.

7. The cationic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the cationic nitrogen-containing group is a cationic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group comprising a first heterocyclic ring that is saturated or unsaturated and that has 5 or 6 ring members with at least one ring member being nitrogen, the first heterocyclic ring being optionally fused to a second ring that is carbocyclic or heterocyclic and that is saturated or unsaturated.

8. The cationic polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the cationic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group is of Formula (VIB)

wherein

the asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to the linking group L;

R 4 is an alkyl or allyl; and

each R 5 is independently hydrogen or an alkyl or two R 5 groups on adjacent carbon atoms of the ring join to form a second ring that is carbocyclic or heterocyclic and that is saturated or unsaturated.

9. The cationic polymer according to claim 7 , wherein the cationic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group is of Formula (VIC)

wherein

an asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to the linking group L; and

each R 5 is independently hydrogen or an alkyl or two R 5 groups on adjacent carbon atoms of the ring join to form a second ring that is carbocyclic or heterocyclic and that is saturated or unsaturated.

10. The cationic polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the cationic nitrogen-containing group is of Formula (VID)

wherein

the asterisk (*) indicates an attachment position to the linking group L; and

each R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 are independently an alkyl.

11. A membrane comprising the cationic polymer of claim 1 .

12. The membrane of claim 11 , wherein the membrane has a positive charge density from 1 to 3 milliequivalents per gram of membrane.

13. An electrochemical device comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

a membrane positioned between the anode and cathode, wherein the membrane is according to claim 11 .

14. The electrochemical device according to claim 13 , wherein the electrochemical device is a fuel cell, an electrolyzer, a battery, or an electrodialysis cell.

15. A method of making a nitrogen-containing copolymer, the method comprising:

a) obtaining or providing a precursor polymer that is a random or block copolymer comprising at least 10 to 50 mole percent of monomeric units according to Formula (I)

based on a total weight of monomeric units in the precursor polymer,

wherein

R is hydrogen or methyl; and

an asterisk (*) indicate an attachment position to another monomeric unit;

b) reacting the precursor polymer with an organic silane of Formula (II)

HSi(R 2 R 2 )-L-X   (II)

to obtain a polymer intermediate comprising monomeric units of Formula (III)

wherein

each R 2 is independently an alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof;

L is a linking group comprising an alkylene group; and

X is a leaving group; and

c) reacting the polymer intermediate comprising monomeric units of Formula (III) with R 3 , which is a nitrogen-containing base free of any N—H bonds, to obtain a cationic polymer comprising monomeric units of Formula (V)

wherein

+R 3 is a cationic nitrogen-containing group free of any N—H bonds.