Novel anhydrous proton conducting polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethyleneglycol methacrylate phosphate) (PEGMAP) and heterocycle have been investigated. The materials were synthesized via conventional radical bulk polymerization of ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate in the presence of proton solvents such as imidazole (Im) or benzimidazole (BnIm). The poly(EGMAP-Im(x)) or poly(EGMAP-BnIm(x)) composites were produced where x is the molar ratio of heterocycle to monomer in the feed. The polymer-heterocycle electrolytes were characterized by elemental analysis (EA), FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and impedance spectroscopy. Maximum proton conductivity of 2 x 10(-4) S/cm has been obtained for the anhydrous composite electrolytes at 160 degrees C. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.