Abstract

Fully aromatic comb-shaped copolymers based on a poly(arylene ether sulfone) (PAES) backbone with highly sulfonated (SA) poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) graft chains have a nanochannel morphology (see picture) for efficient proton transport. These molecular structures show a dramatic enhancement in proton conductivity under partially hydrated conditions compared with typical hydrocarbon polymer electrolytes.