ION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES FABRICATED FROM PLASTICS

Provided are methods for fabricating ion exchange membranes. Such a method comprises exposing a polymer to an ionic functional group precursor under conditions to incorporate covalently bound ionic functional groups into the polymer, thereby providing a functionalized polymer comprising the covalently bound ionic functional groups; and forming the functionalized polymer into a membrane, thereby providing an ion exchange membrane that is permeable to some ions present in a fluid in contact with the membrane while impermeable to other ions present in the fluid. The ion exchange membranes and devices incorporating the membranes, e.g., redox flow batteries, are also encompassed by the present disclosure.