TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: In the anion exchange polyelectrolyte, the at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone comprises the repeating unit of Formula I.A=a single bond, alkylene, fluoroalkylene, or an arylene that is optionally substituted with a halide, alkyl, fluoroalkyl and/or cation functional group, where A is -C(CF3)2- or -C(CF3)(C6H5)-;B=a single bond, oxygen or NR;R=H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl or aryl, optionally substituted with halide, alkyl, a cross-linking group and/or fluoroalkyl; or O; andRa, Rb, Rc, Rd, Rm, Rn, Rp and Rq=each independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine, a cross-linking group and a cationic functional group; or each independently hydrogen or a cationic functional group; and where at least one of A, B, Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Rm, Rn, Rp and Rq is fluorinated.The cationic functional group is -CH2N+(CH3)3. The cationic functional group comprises a polymer graft comprising at least one cationic group, where the cationic functional group has the structure of Formula 1.Y =a cationic functional group;Z=CH or N+; andn=in a range of 0-50.Moreover, the at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone comprises a polysulfone repeating unit, where the polysulfone repeating unit has the structure of Formula II.B=a single bond, oxygen or NR; andR=H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl or aryl, optionally substituted with halide, alkyl, a cross-linking group and/or fluoroalkyl.The at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone comprises a polyarylene ether repeating unit, where the polyarylene ether repeating unit has the structure of Formula III.B=a single bond, oxygen or NR;R=H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl or aryl, optionally substituted with halide, alkyl, a cross-linking group and/or fluoroalkyl; andRv and Rw=each independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine, a cross-linking group and a cationic functional group.The at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone comprises a cyanoarylene repeating unit, or a fluorenyl repeating unit, where the fluorenyl repeating unit has the structure of Formula 2.B and B'=each independently a single bond, oxygen or NR;R=H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl or aryl, optionally substituted with halide, alkyl, a cross-linking group and/or fluoroalkyl; andRf, Rg, Rh and Rj=each independently hydrogen or a cationic functional group.The cross-linking group is a haloalkyl and the anion exchange membrane further comprises at least one ethynyl group, where the ethynyl group is a terminal ethynyl group. The anion exchange membrane is cross-linked via a cross-linking group in the at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone. The cross-linking group of the at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone is cross-linked with an epoxy cross-linker. The cationic functional group is a quaternary ammonium, guanadinium or a phosphonium group. The at least partially fluorinated polyaromatic polymer backbone comprises a block copolymer. EXAMPLE - A partially fluorinated, polyaromatic-based condensation polymer containing ionic functionality located along the polymer backbone was synthesized through the polycondensation, chloromethylation, and amination reactions. The polymer was cast from dimethylfuran (DMF) solvent on Teflon plates to form clear and flexible anionic exchange polyelectrolytes. The carbonate ions in the anion exchange membranes exhibit excellent conductivities up to 63.12 ms/cm at 70 degrees C.