TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Materials: The porous membrane is formed of glass fiber.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The fine pores are open-type fine pores. The hygroscopic polymer layers are present at 2-30 vol.% relative to a total volume of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive polymers are present at 18-68 vol.% relative to a total volume of the polymer electrolyte membrane. Preferred Properties: The porous membrane has a porosity of 20-70 vol.% relative to a total volume of porous membrane. The hygroscopic polymer layers have a larger hygroscopicity than that of the proton conductive polymers. Preferred Dimensions: The fine pores have an average diameter of 0.1-10 microns.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The fine pores are coated with hygroscopic polymer by dipping, pressure reduced dipping, pressure applied dipping, and/or spraying using an aqueous solution of hygroscopic polymer (0.5-20 wt.%). The coated fine pores are filled with proton conductive polymer by dipping, pressure reduced dipping, pressure applied dipping, spraying, doctor-blading, silk-screening, and/or lithography transferring using an aqueous solution of proton conductive polymer (2-50 wt.%).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The porous membrane may be formed of polyolefin, polyester, polysulfone, polyimide, polyetherimide, polyamide, PTFE, and/or preferably rayon. The hygroscopic polymer layers comprise polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polypropylene oxide (PPO), polymethylene oxide (PMO), PEO (meth)acrylate, PEO di(meth)acrylate, and/or polyhydroxyethylmethyl acrylate (PHEMA). The proton conductive polymers are perfluoro-based polymers, benzimidazol-based polymers, polyimide-based polymers, polyether imide-based polymers, polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers, polysulfone-based polymers, polyether sulfone-based polymers, polyether ketone-based polymers, polyether ether ketone-based polymers, and/or polyphenylquinoxaline-based polymers, preferably polyperfluorosulfonic acid, polyperfluorocarboxylic acid, copolymer of fluorovinyl ether and tetrafluoroethylene containing a sulfonic acid, defluorinated polyether ketone sulfide, aryl ketone, poly-2,2'-(m-phenylene)-5,5'-bibenzimidazole, and/or poly-2,5-benzimidazole.