Perfluorosulfonate ionomer dispersions in three different solvents (ethylene glycol (EG), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide (DMF)) were used to prepare solution-cast membranes. The dispersions were obtained by dissolution of Nafion(R) H-2 membranes in a reactor using a water-ethanol solution. Measurements of water uptake and solubility of the cast membranes were conducted. Conductivities were measured directly on carbon paper/membrane/carbon paper assemblies fully immersed in deionized water and were registered by means of impedance spectroscopy as a function of temperature. Results show that all cast samples have lower chemical stability than commercial membranes. Moreover, only membranes cast from dimethyl formarnide-based dispersions gave conductivity performance comparable to those of Nafion(R) 112 and 115. Casting process from dispersion obtained using Nafion(R) rejects gave better results than the process utilizing commercial dispersion. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.