TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The composite electrolyte comprises 0.1-30 wt.% inorganic cation exchange material, 0.1-70 (preferably 0.1-30) wt.% silica-based material and 0.1-99.9 (preferably 40-99.9) wt.% proton-conducting polymer-based material. The inorganic cation exchange material, silica-based material and proton-conducting polymer-based material constitute at least 90 wt.% solids content of the composite electrolyte. The composite electrolyte further comprises preservative, thixotropy and viscosity control agent, crosslinking agent, conditioner, plasticizer, water control agent, or proton-conducting material.Preferred Property: The composite electrolyte has a proton conductivity of at least 0.05 S/cm.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Materials: The inorganic cation exchange material is clay, zeolite, hydrous oxide, or inorganic salt. The clay includes aluminosilicate-based exchange material, preferably montmorillonite, kaolinite, vermiculite, smectite, hectorite, mica, bentonite, nontronite, beidellite, volkonskoite, saponite, magadite, kenyaite, zeolite, alumina, or rutile. It is modified to make it more compatible with organic matrices. The clay modification includes exfoliation which helps to separate platelets of inorganic substance. The silica-based material includes silica, silicate or silicate having an organic element. It is either colloidal silica containing discrete spheres of silica or tetraethylorthosilicate.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The clay may be montmorillonite modified with aminododecanoic acid, trimethyl stearate ammonium, octadecylamine, or methyl dihydroxy hydrogenated tallow ammonium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Polymers: The proton-conducting polymer-based material has a linear, branched or network morphology. It includes acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene rubber (ABS), styrene butadiene/acrylate/acetate polymer blends, epoxides or a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material is polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyaryl ether sulfone, polyaryl ether ketone, or polysulfone. The proton-conducting polymer-based material has a functional sulfonate, phosphate, carbonate, amide or imide having proton-conducting capabilities.Preferred Method: The dissolving step in producing a composite membrane is performed by stirring for 2 hours using a magnetic stir bar. The solution is stirred while being heated. The curing includes annealing the film in a convection oven and maintaining the film in a vacuum for a predetermined time period at a predetermined temperature. The film is stored in ultra-pure water until it is ready for use.