Transport and structural studies of sulfonated styrene-ethylene copolymer membranes

The structure and proton conductivity of sulfonated styrene-ethylene copolymers have been Conductivities in excess of 0.1 S/cm are obtained depending upon copolymer composition and sulfonation level. The dependence of conductivity on humidity has been measured and compared with that of Nafion and a partially sulfonated block copolymer. X-ray and neutron scattering studies suggest the presence of a bicontinuous network of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains in water-swollen samples.