The microstructure of proton conducting polymers (NAFION and a sulfonated p
olyetherketone) has been investigated by SAXS and the results are related t
o coefficients of transport in thermodynamic equilibrium (water-self diffus
ion and proton mobility) as well as hydrodynamic transport (water permeatio
n and electroosmotic drag) as obtained from NMR, impedance spectroscopic an
d permeation experiments. A model comprising (i) simple geometric effects,
(ii) effects of chemical interactions and (iii) the formation of inner spac
e charges provides a semiquantitative scheme which relates the microstructu
re to the transport properties of such types of polymers.