Sulfonated poly(ethersulfone)s (S-PDHTPEs) were prepared from DHTPE (4,4-(2,2-diphenylethenylidene) bisphenol), 4,4-sulfonyldiphenol, 4-fluorophenylsulfone using potassium carbonate, and followed sulfonation reaction with conc. sulfuric acid. DHTPE is a conjugated structure, which enables to form planar conformation between aromatic rings, and selectively sulfonated on phenyl rings of polymer side chain. A series of membranes were studied by H-1-NMR spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The ion exchange capacity (IEC) and proton conductivity of S-PDHTPEs were evaluated with increase of degree of sulfonation. The water uptake of synthesized S-PDHTPE membranes exhibit 32-69% compared with 28% of Nation 211. The S-PDHTPE membranes exhibit proton conductivities (80 degrees C, RH100) of 43.1-1032 mS/cm compared with 137.4 mS/cm of Nation 211. Under a H-2/O-2 system, the cells with MEA made by S-PDHTPE 40 provided the maximum cell performance of around 032. 036, and 0.42. and resulting in lower than Nation 211 of 0.45 W/cm(2). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.