Two phenol-containing sulfonated polyoxadiazoles (SPOD) membranes were synthesized at high temperature and short reaction time through one-step method. The structure of polymers was characterized by various techniques. Ion exchange capacity, sulfonation degree and water-uptake of SPODs were also investigated. Polyoxadiazole based on 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (5HIP) was insoluble in organic solvents; it had higher absorbent capacity and larger swelling degree in the salt form and also, it could be classified as a super absorbent while SPOD based on 5HIP and 4,4-diphenylether dicarboxylic acid (DPE) showed good solubility in common aprotic organic solvents and exhibited favorable water uptake. Proton conductivity of the membrane based on 5HIP and DPE were also examined at different temperatures (25-120 degrees C) under different relative humidities (30-100% RH). Results show that the synthesized membrane exhibited high proton conductivity (0.06 S/cm) compared to Nafion 117 in anhydrous condition which is favorable enough to be used in high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.