Several N,O-chelating type bidentate ligand nickel complexes were synthesized, characterized and applied to catalyze copolymerization of norbornene and polar norbornene.

A ROMP-type epoxy-functionalized norbornene copolymer and its hybrid alkaline anion exchange membranes were prepared and studied for DMFC application.

Ni(ii) complexes were successfully synthesized and characterized, and were highly active toward (co)polymerization of norbornene, and the 1-hexene content could be controlled.

Two C–C bridged Ni(II) complexes bearing β‐keto‐9‐fluorenyliminato ligands with electron‐withdrawing groups (─CF3), Ni{PhC(O)CHC[N(9‐fluorenyl)]CF2}2 (Ni1) and Ni{CF3C(O)CHC[N(9‐fluorenyl)]Ph}2 (Ni2), were synthesized by metal coordination reaction and different in situ bonding mechanisms. The C–C bridged bonds of Ni1 were formed by in situ intramolecular trifluoromethyl and 9‐fluorenyl carbon–carbon cross‐coupling reaction and those of Ni2 were formed by in situ intramolecular 9‐fluorenyl carbon–carbon radical coupling reaction mechanism. The obtained complexes were characterized using 1H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The crystal and molecular structures of Ni1 and Ni2 with C–C bridged configuration were determined using X‐ray diffraction. Ni1 and Ni2 were used as catalysts for norbornene (NB) polymerization after activation with B(C6F5)3 and the catalytic activities reached 106 gpolymer molNi−1 h−1. The copolymerization of NB and styrene catalyzed by the Ni1/B(C6F5)3 system showed high activity (105 gpolymer molNi−1 h−1) and the catalytic activities decreased with increasing feed content of styrene. All vinyl‐type copolymers exhibited high molecular weight (104 g mol−1), narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.71–2.80), high styrene insertion ratios (11.13–50.81%) and high thermal stability (Td > 380°C) and could be made into thin films with high transparency in the visible region (400–800 nm).