Lithium pentafluorobenzene sulfonate was synthesized by a protocol whereby pollution by aromatic nucleophilic substitutions on the perfluorinated ring was avoided. Its poly(oxyethylene) complexes, although less conductive than lithium imide complexes, provided cationic transference numbers higher than 0.5. Surprisingly, even at fairly low concentrations, this salt markedly increased the mechanical properties of the polymer electrolyte. This effect was attributed to telechelic interactions of the ion pairs with distinct polyether chains and is in agreement with the high cationic transference numbers. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.