Influence of adjusted hydrophilic–hydrophobic lengths in sulfonated multiblock copoly(ether sulfone) membranes for fuel cell application

Sulfonated multiblock copoly(ether sulfone)s applicable to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were synthesized by the coupling reaction of the hydroxyl‐terminated hydrophilic and hydrophobic oligomers with different lengths in the presence of highly reactive decafluorobiphenyl (DFB) as a chain extender to investigate the influence of each length on the membranes' properties, such as water uptake, proton conductivity, and morphology. Multiblock copolymers with high molecular weights (M_n > 50,000, M_w > 150,000) were obtained under mild reaction conditions. The resulting membranes demonstrated good oxidative stability for hot Fenton's reagent and maintained high water uptake (7.3–18.7 wt %) under a low relative humidity (50% RH). Proton conductivity of all membranes at 80 °C and 95% RH was higher than that of Nafion 117 membrane, and good proton conductivity of 7.0 × 10^?3 S/cm was obtained at 80 °C and 50% RH by optimizing the oligomer lengths. The surface morphology of the membranes was investigated by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), which showed that the multiblock copolymer membranes had a clearer surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic‐separated structure than that of the random copolymer, and contributed to good and effective proton conduction. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7332–7341, 2008     

Synthesis and properties of multiblock copoly(arylene ether)s containing superacid groups for fuel cell membranes

A series of block copoly(arylene ether)s containing pendant superacid groups were synthesized, and their properties were investigated for fuel cell applications. Two series of telechelic oligomers, iodo‐substituted oligo(arylene ether ketone)s and oligo(arylene ether sulfone)s, were synthesized. The degree of oligomerization and the end groups were controlled by changing the feed ratio of the monomers. The nucleophilic substitution polymerization of the two oligomers provided iodo‐substituted precursor block copolymers. The iodo groups were converted to perfluorosulfonic acid groups via the Ullmann coupling reaction. The high degree of perfluorosulfonation (up to 83%) was achieved by optimizing the reaction conditions. Tough and bendable membranes were prepared by solution casting. The ionomer membranes exhibited characteristic hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase separation with large hydrophilic clusters (ca. 10 nm), which were different from that of our previous random copolymers with similar molecular structure. The block copolymer structure was found to be effective in improving the proton‐conducting behavior of the superacid‐modified poly(arylene ether) ionomer membranes without increasing the ion exchange capacity (IEC). The highest proton conductivity was 0.13 S/cm at 80 °C, 90% relative humidity, for the block copolymer ionomer membrane with IEC = 1.29 mequiv/g. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Preparation of polymer electrolyte membranes based on poly(phenylene oxide) with different side chain lengths of phosphonic acid

A series of poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) polymers bearing phosphonic acid groups on the methyl group and on the phenyl ring are synthesized as membrane materials for fuel cell applications. These phosphonic acid‐based PPO membranes exhibited high chemical resistance, dimensional stability, and good proton conductivity even under low humidity condition. Among the membranes, the one in which the phosphonic acid moiety is attached to the polymer main chain with ? CO(CH₂)₅? shows highest proton conductivity under overall conditions even though it has the lowest water uptake and IEC value. A well‐defined separation of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases suggests the phosphonic acid groups to form proton conduction channels via interchain hydrogen bonding. A high storage modulus of the membranes in various temperature ranges indicates that the membranes are suitable for use under a high temperature and low humidity conditions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019     

Synthesis and properties of sulfonated multiblock copoly(ether sulfone)s by a chain extender

A new series of sulfonated multiblock copoly(ether sulfone)s applicable to proton exchange membrane fuel cells was synthesized. The multiblock copolymers were synthesized by the nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydroxyl‐terminated oligomers in the presence of highly reactive decafluorobiphenyl (DFB) as a chain extender. Because of the high reactivity of DFB, the ether–ether interchange reaction, which could lead to a randomized polymer architecture, was prevented, and multiblock copolymers with high molecular weights were easily produced. The multiblock copolymers gave tough, flexible, and transparent membranes by solution casting. The ion exchange capacity values could be easily controlled by changing the sulfonated block ratios in the copolymers. The resulting membranes demonstrated good oxidative and dimensional stability and significantly higher proton conductivity than sulfonated random poly(ether sulfone) copolymers. The morphologies of the membranes were investigated by tapping mode atomic force microscopy, which showed that the multiblock membranes had a clear hydrophilic/hydrophobic separated structure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3947–3957, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of proton‐conducting copolyimides bearing pendant sulfonic acid groups

A series of sulfonated copolyimides (co‐SPIs) bearing pendant sulfonic acid groups were synthesized from 1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA), bis(3‐sulfopropoxy) benzidines (BSPBs), and common nonsulfonated diamines via statistical or sequenced polycondensation reactions. Membranes were prepared by casting their m‐cresol solutions. The co‐SPI membrane had a microphase‐separated structure composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, but the connecting behavior of hydrophilic domains was different from that of the homo‐SPIs. The co‐SPI membranes displayed clear anisotropic membrane swelling in water with negligibly small dimensional changes in the plane direction of the membrane. With water uptake values of 39–94 wt %, they showed dimensional changes in membrane thickness of about 0.11–0.58, which were much lower than those of homo‐SPIs. The proton conductivity σ values of co‐SPI membranes with ion exchange capacity values ranging from 1.95–2.32 meq/g increased sigmoidally with increasing relative humidity. They displayed σ values of 0.05–0.16 S/cm at 50 °C in liquid water. Increasing temperature up to 120 °C resulted in further increase in proton conductivity. The co‐SPI membranes showed relatively good conductivity stability during the aging treatment in water at 100 °C for 300 h. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1545–1553, 2005     

Proton‐conductive membranes based on blends of polyimides

We prepared novel proton‐conductivity membranes based on blends of sulfonated polyimides. The blend membranes were prepared from a sulfonated homopolyimide and a sulfonated copolyimide with a solvent‐casting method. The proton conductivities of the blend membranes were measured as functions of the temperature with four‐point‐probe electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The conductivity of the membranes strongly depended on the sulfonated homopolyimide content and increased with an increase in the content. The proton conductivity of all the blended membranes indicated a higher value than that determined in Nafion at 80 °C, and this may mean that the proton transfer in the blend membranes is responsible for the ionic channels induced by the hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1325–1332, 2007     

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) ionomers containing fluorenyl groups for fuel cell applications

A series of sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (SPEs) containing fluorenyl groups as bulky components were synthesized and characterized for fuel cell applications. Introduction of disodium 3,3′-disulfo-4,4′-difluorophenyl sulfone (SFPS) monomer gave ionomers with high acidity and accordingly high proton conductivity as well as high proton diffusion coefficient (D_σ) at low humidity. The membrane of SPE60 (where the number denotes mole percentage of the component containing sulfonic acid groups; IEC (ion exchange capacity) = 1.68 mequiv./g) exhibited high proton conductivity of 4.6 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 40% RH and 80 °C, which is one order of magnitude higher than that (6 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm) of our previous SPE (SPE-1, IEC = 1.58 mequiv./g). D_σ of SPE60 membrane was ca. 4 times higher than that of the SPE-1 membrane at low water volume fraction. SPE membranes showed good oxidative and hydrolytic stability as well as favorable thermal and mechanical properties. Small-angle X-ray scattering analyses showed that the phase separation of SPE membranes was much less developed than that of the perfluorinated Nafion membrane which accounts for lower hydrogen and oxygen permeability of the former membranes.     

Substituents effect on the properties of sulfonated polyimide copolymers

A series of sulfonated polyimide (SPI) copolymers containing methyl, methoxy, or fluorine groups were synthesized to elucidate the substituents effect on their proton conducting properties as well as thermal, hydrolytic, and oxidative stability for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell applications. SPIs of high molecular weight (M_w > 200 kDa, M_n > 80 kDa) along with the ion exchange capacity (IEC) varying between 1.34 and 1.91 mequiv/g were obtained, which gave tough, ductile, and flexible membranes by solution casting. The thermal properties of the SPIs were dominated by the electronic structure of the sulfonated aromatic rings. The electron‐donating methyl groups lowered the thermal decomposition temperature. The hydrolytic and oxidative stability was roughly in the order of IEC (the higher IEC membranes were less stable). Fluorine groups, either as ? F or ? CF₃, had negative effect on the hydrolytic and oxidative stability. In the water uptake and proton conductivity, hydrophobic components are rather more influential than the substituents. It was found out that the SPI(5, 8, 0.7) containing bis(phenoxy)biphenylene sulfone moieties as a rigid hydrophobic component showed the best balanced properties in terms of the stability and the proton conductivity for its rather low IEC. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4469–4478, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated‐fluorinated,hydrophilic‐hydrophobic multiblock copolymers for proton exchange membranes

Hydrophilic/hydrophobic block copolymers as proton exchange membranes (PEMs) has become an emerging area of research in recent years. These copolymers were obtained through moderate temperature (～ 100 °C) coupling reactions, which minimize the ether‐ether interchanges between hydrophobic and hydrophilic telechelic oligomers via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution mechanism. The hydrophilic blocks were based on the nucleophilic step polymerization of 3,3′‐disulfonated, 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenyl sulfone with an excess 4,4′‐biphenol to afford phenoxide endgroups. The hydrophobic (fluorinated) blocks were largely based on decafluoro biphenyl (excess) and various bisphenols. The copolymers were obtained in high molecular weights and were solvent cast into tough membranes, which had nanophase separated hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The performance and structure‐property relationships of these materials were studied and compared to random copolymer systems. NMR results supported that the multiblock sequence had been achieved. They displayed superior proton conductivity, due to the ionic proton conducting channels formed through the self‐assembly of the sulfonated blocks. The nano‐phase separated morphologies of the copolymer membranes were studied and confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Through control of a variety of parameters, including ion exchange capacity and sequence lengths, performances as high, or even higher than those of the state‐of‐the‐art PEM, Nafion, were achieved. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1038–1051, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of multiblock copolymers based on hydrophilic disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and hydrophobic partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone) for fuel cell applications

Sulfonated fluorinated multiblock copolymers based on high performance polymers were synthesized and evaluated for use as proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The multiblock copolymers consist of fully disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) and partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether ketone) as hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, respectively. Synthesis of the multiblock copolymers was achieved by a condensation coupling reaction between controlled molecular weight hydrophilic and hydrophobic oligomers. The coupling reaction could be conducted at relatively low temperatures (e.g., 105 °C) by utilizing highly reactive hexafluorobenzene (HFB) as a linkage group. The low coupling reaction temperature could prevent a possible trans‐etherification, which can randomize the hydrophilic‐hydrophobic sequences. Tough ductile membranes were prepared by solution casting and their membrane properties were evaluated. With similar ion exchange capacities (IECs), proton conductivity and water uptake were strongly influenced by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic block sequence lengths. Conductivity and water uptake increased with increasing block length by developing nanophase separated morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments revealed that the connectivity of the hydrophilic segments was enhanced by increasing the block length. The systematic synthesis and characterization of the copolymers are reported. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 214–222, 2010     

Phosphoric acid‐doped imidazolium ionomers with enhanced stability for anhydrous proton‐exchange membrane applications

Phosphoric acid‐doped crosslinked proton‐conducting membranes with high anhydrous proton conductivity, and good chemical stability in phosphoric acid were synthesized and characterized. The synthetic procedure of the acid‐doped composite membranes mainly involves the in situ crosslinking of polymerizable monomer oils (styrene and acrylonitrile) and vinylimidazole, and followed by the sulfonation of pendant imidazole groups with butanesultone, and further doped with phosphoric acid. The resultant phosphoric acid‐doped composite electrolyte membranes are flexible and show high thermal stability and high‐proton conductivity up to the order of 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 160 °C under anhydrous conditions. The phosphoric acid uptake, swelling degree, and proton conductivity of the composite membranes increase with the vinylimidazole content. The resultant composite membranes also show good oxidative stability in Fenton's reagent (at 70 °C), and quite good chemical stability in phosphoric acid (at 160 °C). The properties of the prepared electrolyte membranes indicate their promising prospects in anhydrous proton‐exchange membrane applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013 , 51, 1311–1317     

Synthesis and properties of novel sulfonated polyimides containing binaphthyl groups as proton‐exchange membranes for fuel cells

A novel sulfonated diamine monomer, 2,2′‐bis(p‐aminophenoxy)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐6,6′‐disulfonic acid (BNDADS), was synthesized. A series of sulfonated polyimide copolymers containing 30–80 mol % BNDADS as a hydrophilic component were prepared. The copolymers showed excellent solubility and good film‐forming capability. Atomic force microscopy phase images clearly showed hydrophilic/hydrophobic microphase separation. The relationship between the proton conductivity and degree of sulfonation was examined. The sulfonated polyimide copolymer with 60 mol % BNDADS showed higher proton conductivity (0.0945–0.161 S/cm) at 20–80 °C in liquid water. The membranes exhibited methanol permeability from 9 × 10^?8 to 5 × 10^?7 cm²/s at 20 °C, which was much lower than that of Nafion (2 × 10^?6cm²/s). The copolymers were thermally stable up to 300 °C. The sulfonated polyimide copolymers with 30–60 mol % BNDADS showed reasonable mechanical strength; for example, the maximum tensile strength at break of the sulfonated polyimide copolymer with 40 mol % BNDADS was 80.6 MPa under high moisture conditions. The optimum concentration of BNDADS was found to be 60 mol % from the viewpoint of proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and membrane stability. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 222–231, 2007     

The effect of structural variations on aromatic polyethers for high‐temperature PEM fuel cells

Three series of new aromatic polyether sulfones bearing phenyl, p‐tolyl or carboxyl side groups, respectively, and polar pyridine main chain groups were developed. Most of the polymeric materials presented high molecular weights and excellent solubility in common organic solvents. More importantly, they formed stable, self‐standing membranes that were thoroughly characterized in respect to their thermal, mechanical and oxidative stability, their phosphoric acid doping ability and ionic conductivity. Particularly, the copolymers bearing side p‐tolyl or carboxyl groups fulfill all necessary requirements for application as proton electrolyte membranes in high temperature fuel cells, which are glass transition temperatures higher than 220 °C, thermal stability up to 400 °C, oxidative stability, high doping levels (DLs) and proton conductivities of about 0.02 S/cm. Initial single fuel cell results at high temperatures, 160 °C or 180 °C, using a copolymer bearing p‐tolyl side groups with a relatively low DLs around 200 wt % and dry H₂/Air feed gases, revealed efficient power generation with a current density of 0.5 A/cm² at 500 mV. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Proton conductivity in crosslinked hydrophilic ionic polymer system: Competitive hydration,crosslink heterogeneity,and ineffective domains

High proton conductivity in hydrophobic backbone‐based polymers such as Nafion is known to be due to the formation of organized ionic clusters and channels upon hydration. However, a lower proton conductivity in hydrophilic, ionic polymers and the role played by the microstructure are not well understood. In this work, we demonstrate the importance of heterogeneity in crosslinked ionic polymer networks in explaining proton conductivity. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) crosslinked with sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) is used as the model polymer system for the study. Evolution of the microstructure with hydration and the effect on proton conductivity are analyzed using ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy, and small‐angle neutron scattering. We show that the presence of the two hydrophilic groups in PVA‐SSA (hydroxyl and sulfonic acid), as opposed to Nafion, results in competition for water and a lower proton conductivity. The crosslinked polymer–water system contains heterogeneous domains of crosslink nodes which are conductive. These domains (of size 20–35 Å) interconnect with each other and form tortuous percolating domains through which proton conduction takes place. The presence of hydroxyl groups results in some of the domains being ineffective for proton transport, resulting in a lower conductivity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1087–1101     

Synthesis and properties of sulfonated polyimides derived from bis(sulfophenoxy) benzidines

A series of aromatic sulfonated polyimides (SPIs) bearing sulfophenoxy side groups have been successfully synthesized and evaluated as polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications. The SPIs had high viscosity and gave tough and flexible membranes. The SPI membranes showed anisotropic membrane swelling in water with much larger dimensional change in thickness direction than in plane one. They showed the better proton‐conducting performance even in the lower relative humidity (RH) range than the other SPI membranes, for example, a high proton conductivity of 0.05 S/cm at 50 % RH and 120 °C. They maintained high mechanical strength and conductivity after aging in water at 130 °C for 500 h, showing much better water stability compared with the main‐chain‐type SPI and side‐chain‐type SPI membranes reported so far. In polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) operated at 90 °C and 84–30%RH, they showed fairly high cell performances and have high potential for PEFC applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1463–1477, 2009     

Membranes from poly(aryl ether)‐based ionomers containing multiblock segments of randomly distributed nanoclusters of 18 sulfonic acid groups

Multiblock copolymers 1a (M_n = 31,500–47,400) of sulfonated poly(aryl ether)s were synthesized by polycondensation of 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone (DFBP), bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)sulfone (BHPS), and an hydroxy‐terminated sulfonated oligomer, which was synthesized from DFBP and 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′‐hexaphenyl‐4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl a . The copolymerization of trimeric monomer b with DFBP and BHPS gave a series of copolymers 1b (M_n = 26,200–45,900). The copolymers were then sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid to give ionomers 3a with hydrophilic multiblock segments and ionomers 3b with segments containing clusters of 18 sulfonic acid groups. The proton exchange membranes cast from ionomers 3a and 3b were characterized with regard to thermal stability, water uptake, proton conductivity, and morphology. Transmission electron microscopy images of 3a‐1 and 3b‐1 revealed a phase separation similar to that of Nafion that may explain their higher proton conductivities compared with randomly sulfonated copolymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4762–4773, 2009     

Differences in water sorption and proton conductivity between Nafion and SPEEK

Water sorption, volumetric expansion, and proton conductivity of 1100 EW Nafion and 555 EW sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK) were compared as functions of water activity at 60 and 80 °C. Water sorption in Nafion occurs with a small positive volume of mixing, ～0.005 cm³/cm³. In contrast, water sorption in SPEEK has a large negative volume of mixing ～?0.05 cm³/cm³. The percolation thresholds for proton conduction occur at hydrophilic volume fractions of 0.10 in Nafion and 0.30 in SPEEK. Proton conductivity increases quadratically with hydrophilic volume fraction above the percolation threshold. The different percolation thresholds suggest the hydrophilic domains in Nafion grow from lamella, whereas the hydrophilic domains in SPEEK grow from spheres. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1437–1445, 2011     

Sulfonated polybenzimidazoles: Proton conduction and acid–base crosslinking

A series of soluble, benzimidazole‐based polymers containing sulfonic acid groups (SuPBI) has been synthesized. SuPBI membranes resist extensive swelling in water but are poor proton conductors. When blended with high ion exchange capacity (IEC) sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), a polymer that has high proton conductivity but poor mechanical integrity, ionic crosslinks form reducing the extent of swelling. The effect of sulfonation of PBI on crosslinking in these blends was gauged through comparison with nonsulfonated analogs. Sulfonic acid groups present in SuPBI compensate for acid groups involved in crosslinking, thereby increasing IEC and proton conductivity of the membrane. When water uptake and proton conductivity were compared to the IEC of blends containing either sulfonated or nonsulfonated PBI, no noticeable distinction between PBI types could be made. Comparisons were also made between these blends and pure SPEEK membranes of similar IEC. Blend membranes exhibit slightly lower maximum proton conductivity than pure SPEEK membranes (60 vs. 75 mS cm^?1) but had significantly enhanced dimensional stability upon immersion in water, especially at elevated temperature (80 °C). Elevated temperature measurements in humid environments show increased proton conductivity of the SuPBI membranes when compared with SPEEK‐only membranes of similar IEC (c.f. 55 for the blend vs. 42 mS cm^?1 for SPEEK at 80 °C, 90% relative humidity). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3640–3650, 2010     

Synthesis and Characterization of Phenolphthalein‐Containing Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s by Direct Polycondensation for Proton Exchange Membrane

A series of novel phenolphthalein‐containing sulfonated poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s (sPAEPP) with various sulfonation degrees were synthesized by direct polycondensation. The structure of sPAEPP was confirmed by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The high‐molecular weight of these polymers was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The transparent, tough, and flexible membranes could be achieved by solution casting. The macroscopic properties and microstructure of the obtained membranes were investigated in detail. The results showed that these sPAEPP membranes displayed excellent properties in terms of swelling, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability. For example, sPAEPP‐100 membrane exhibited an appropriate water uptake of 33.1%, a swelling ratio of only 11.7% (lower than 20.1% of Nafion 117), a proton conductivity of 0.11 S cm^?1 (similar to that of Nafion 117) at 80 °C, and a methanol permeability of 4.82 × 10^?7 cm² s^?1. Meanwhile, it also presented outstanding oxidative stability. Atomic force microscope (AFM) micrographs showed that the hydrophilic domains of the sPAEPP‐100 membrane formed connected and narrow ionic channels, which contributed to its high proton conductivity and good dimensional stability. As a result, sPAEPP‐100 membrane displays excellent application prospect for fuel cells. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 1097–1104     

Highly sulfonated multiblock copoly(ether sulfone)s for fuel cell membranes

Highly sulfonated multiblock copoly(ether sulfone)s applicable to proton electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) were synthesized by the coupling reaction of corresponding hydroxyl‐ terminated oligomers in the presence of highly reactive decafluorobiphenyl (DFB) as a chain extender, followed by postsulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid. Their molecular weights were reasonably high as determined by viscosity measurement (η_inh = 0.72–1.58 dL/g). It was also confirmed that postsulfonation selectively took place in hydrophilic segments to yield highly sulfonated multiblock copolymers (IEC = 1.90–2.75 mequiv/g). The resulting polymers gave transparent, flexible, and tough membranes by solution casting. The 4b membrane, as a representative sample, demonstrated good mechanical strength in the dry state regardless of high IEC value (2.75 mequiv/g). The 4a–c membranes with higher IEC values (IEC = 2.75–2.79 mequiv/g) maintained high water uptake (13.7–17.7 wt %) at 50% RH and it was still high (7.4–8.5 wt %) at 30% RH. Proton conductivity of all membranes at 80 °C and 95% RH was higher than that of Nafion 117. Furthermore, the 4a membrane showed high proton conductivity, comparable with Nafion 117 in the range of 50–95% RH, and maintained high proton conductivity (2.3 × 10^?3 S/cm) even at 30% RH. Finally, the surface morphology of the membrane was investigated by tapping mode atomic force microscopy, which showed well‐connected hydrophilic domains that could work as proton transportation channel. This phase separation and the high water uptake behavior probably contributed to high and effective proton conduction in a wide range of relative humidity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2757–2764, 2010