This article reviews recent progress in the development of sulfonated hydrocarbon polymers as electrolyte membrane materials for fuel cell application.The syntheses of various sulfonated hydrocarbon polymers such as sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s
sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)s
sulfonated polyphenylenes and sixmembered ring sulfonated polyimides via post-sulfonation and/or direct polymerization approach from the related sulfonated monomers are discussed.