Patent ID: 7544764

Claim:
A membrane electrode assembly, comprising: an anode that includes a polymer; a cathode that includes a polymer; and a proton exchange membrane positioned between the anode and cathode, said proton exchange membrane includes a polymer, wherein at least one of the anode, the cathode, and the proton exchange membrane comprises a sulfonated copolymer having the following chemical structure: wherein; n/n+m ranges from about 0.001 to about 1, and (n+m)/k=1.01 in moles; Y may be —S—, S(O), S(O) 2 C(O), or P(O)(C 6 H 5 ), and combination thereof; and Z may be a direct carbon-carbon single bond, C(CH 3 ) 2 , C(CF 3 ) 2 , C(CF 3 )(C 6 H 5 ), C(O), S(O) 2 , or P(O)(C 6 H 5 ).