BLOCK COPOLYMER COMPOSITION AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF

The disclosure relates to a metalated-sulfonated styrenic block copolymer (SO3-M+-SBC) composition. The composition is obtained by epoxidation of SBC precursor followed by alcoholysis of epoxidized SBC using Grignard reagent, and then lithiation and sulfonation (in-situ). The precursor polymer can have any of a sequential diblock, triblock or a coupled structure, which can be extended to a tetrablock, a pentablock copolymer, with at least one of the blocks metalated-sulfonated. The SO3- M+-SBCs are suitable for use as electrolytes in energy storage devices. The SO3- M+-SBC is converted to sulfonic acid styrenic block copolymer (SO3-H-SBC) upon acidification. The SO3- H-SBCs are suitable for use as cation exchange membranes and numerous ion and moisture transport applications.