Multilayer-type polymer electrolyte membranes composed of a sulfonated poly(4-phenoxybenzoyl-1,4-phenylene) (S-PPBP) layer and a mono[ poly(propylene oxide)methacrylate] phosphate ester (PPHP) layer were fabricated by solution-casting procedure (Method 1) and hot-pressing procedure (Method 2) in order to suppress methanol permeability of electrolyte membranes. No delamination was observed by SEM measurements of S-PPBP/PPHP interfaces, indicating that PPHP had good adhesive properties to S-PPBP surfaces. The methanol permeability of S-PPBP/PPHP membranes was lower than that of S-PPBP membranes and decreased with increasing the thickness of PPHP layers. The bilayer membrane with 12 mu m PPHP and 40 mu m S-PPBP layers showed a methanol permeability of 2.97 x 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1) in 1 mol dm(-3) methanol aqueous solution at 25 degrees C, which was 13% less than that ofthe S-PPBP membranes. The conductivity of this membrane reached its optimum with values as high as 1.57 x 10(-1) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C and 90%RH. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.