Abstract: The invention relates to the development of quaterphenylene polymer derivatives with synthetic methodologies towards controllable and integer degree of functionalization on the quaterphenylene polymer backbone with specific number of side phenyl groups and monovalent hydrocarbon groups terminated by a functional group consisting of quaternary ammonium groups resulting to precise IEC, water uptake and anionic conductivity without batch-to-batch variations and compatible with industrial manufacturing processes for use as membranes or ionomers in low temperature and high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.