An ionic polymer (IP) consisting of a first monomer of formula I or consisting of a first monomer of formula I and at least one second monomer selected from the group consisting of wherein n and m are independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; z and w are independently selected from 0, 1, 2, 3; Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 are cations each independently selected from the group comprising: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently selected from the group comprising a bond, H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, allyl, CH 3 -(CH 2 )p-O-(CH 2 )q-CH 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyalkyl, benzyl, -SO 3 H, -(CH 2 )q-SO 3 H, provided that two of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each a bond; p and q are independently selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; L is an optional linker and each occurrence of L, if present, is independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene and substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 10 aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group comprising H, - SO 3 H, -COOH, -[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -[P(=O)(OH)], -O-SO 3 H, -O-COOH, -O-[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -O-[P(=O)(OH)]; A is an optional acidic group and each occurrence of A, if present, is independently selected from the group comprising H, -SO 3 H, -COOH, -[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -[P(=O)(OH)], -O-SO 3 H, -O-COOH, -O-[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -O-[P(=O)(OH)], -CH 2 -COOH; X - is selected from the group comprising F - , Cl - , Br - , I - , ClO 4 - , BF 4 - , PF 6 - , AsF 6 - , SbF 6 - , NO 2 - , NO 3 - , HSO 4 - , SO 4 2- , PO 4 3- , HPO 4 2- , CF 3 CO 2 - , CF 3 CO 3 - , CO 3 2- , CF 3 SO 3 - , C 1 -C 6 carboxylate, CN - , SCN - , OCN - , CNO - , N 3 - , tosylate, mesylate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, trifluoroethane sulfonate, di-trifluoromethanesulfonyl amino, docusate, xylenesulfonate; n and m are independently selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; z and w are independently selected from 0, 1, 2, 3; Z 1 , Z 2 and Z 3 are cations each independently selected from the group comprising: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently selected from the group comprising a bond, H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, allyl, CH 3 -(CH 2 )p-O-(CH 2 )q-CH 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkoxyalkyl, benzyl, -SO 3 H, -(CH 2 )q-SO 3 H, provided that two of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each a bond; p and q are independently selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; L is an optional linker and each occurrence of L, if present, is independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20 alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene and substituted or unsubstituted C 5 -C 10 aryl, wherein the substituents are selected from the group comprising H, - SO 3 H, -COOH, -[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -[P(=O)(OH)], -O-SO 3 H, -O-COOH, -O-[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -O-[P(=O)(OH)]; A is an optional acidic group and each occurrence of A, if present, is independently selected from the group comprising H, -SO 3 H, -COOH, -[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -[P(=O)(OH)], -O-SO 3 H, -O-COOH, -O-[P(=O)(OH) 2 ], -O-[P(=O)(OH)], -CH 2 -COOH; X - is selected from the group comprising F - , Cl - , Br - , I - , ClO 4 - , BF 4 - , PF 6 - , AsF 6 - , SbF 6 - , NO 2 - , NO 3 - , HSO 4 - , SO 4 2- , PO 4 3- , HPO 4 2- , CF 3 CO 2 - , CF 3 CO 3 - , CO 3 2- , CF 3 SO 3 - , C 1 -C 6 carboxylate, CN - , SCN - , OCN - , CNO - , N 3 - , tosylate, mesylate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, trifluoroethane sulfonate, di-trifluoromethanesulfonyl amino, docusate, xylenesulfonate; <EOS>