Functionalized Triptycene Poly(ether Ether Ketone)s and Their Uses

Embodiments described herein relate to compositions including iptycene-based structures. Some embodiments provide compositions including polymers having a backbone comprising an iptycene-based compound. Some embodiments described herein provide compositions having enhanced properties such as enhanced porosity, increased glass transition temperatures, and/or improved solubility as compared to traditional poly(aryl ether)-based compounds or traditional iptycene-based compounds. In some cases, the compositions may include various aryl ether compounds such as an aryl ether ketone incorporated into the polymer backbone. Non-limiting examples of suitable aryl ether compounds include polyaylethersulfones, polyaryletherketones, polyetherimides, and polyphenylene ethers. The compositions described herein may be useful in a wide variety of applications, including structural materials, flexible composites, ion conductors, fuel cell membranes such as proton exchanging membranes, sensors, preconcentrators, absorbents, or the like.