%0 Journal Article %T Stabilized Sulfonated Aromatic Polymers by in situ Solvothermal Cross-Linking %A Maria Luisa Di Vona %A Luca Pasquini %A Hongying Hou %A Philippe Knauth %J Frontiers in Energy Research %D 2014 %I Frontiers Media %R 10.3389/fenrg.2014.00039 %X The cross-link reaction via sulfone bridges of sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) by thermal treatment at 180ˇăC in presence of dimethylsulfoxide is discussed. The modifications of properties subsequent to the cross-linking are presented. The mechanical strength as well as the hydrolytic stability increased with the thermal treatment time, i.e., with the degree of cross-linking. The proton conductivity was determined as function of temperature, IEC, degree of cross-linking, and hydration number. The memory effect, which is the membrane ability to ˇ°rememberˇ± the water uptake reached at high temperature also at lower temperature, is exploited in order to achieve high values of conductivity. Membranes swelled at 110ˇăC can reach a conductivity of 0.14 S/cm at 80ˇăC with a hydration number (¦Ë) of 73. %K SPEEK %K reticulation reaction %K mechanical properties %K conductivity %K memory effect %U http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fenrg.2014.00039/abstract