The preparation and characterisation of fully polymeric-bound heterocycles as proton solvents is presented. Two different types of polymers are prepared: Polystyrene with imidazole terminated flexible side chains and benzimidazole covalently bonded to an inorganic SiO2 network by a flexible spacer. High proton conductivities of up to 7 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 200 degreesC have been obtained for these polymers in the absence of water. The presence of protonic charge carriers (protonated and deprotonated heterocycles) is a result of self-dissociation and the proton conductance is suggested to occur via intermolecular proton transfer and structural reorganisation within a dynamical hydrogen bond network formed by the aggregation of the terminating heterocycles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.