TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The calixarene is of structure (I).n=4-6.The calixresorcinarene is of structure (II). The cation exchange group includes a compound from -SO3H, -COOR, or -PO(OH)2. The organic group having the cation exchange group at the terminal end is optionally substituted 1-20C alkoxy, optionally substituted 6-20C aryloxy or optionally substituted 2-20C heteroaryloxy having a cation exchange group at a terminal end. It is also of one or more of 4 structures, e.g. O-(CH2)kSO3H.k=1-5.The ion conducting compound is of one or more of 4 structures, e.g. structure (Ia).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The polymer matrix is made from sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), sulfonated poly(ether ether sulfone) (SPEES), sulfonated polyimide (SPI), polyimide, polybenzimidazole, polyethersulfone or poly(ether ether ketone). The SPEEK is of structure (11) and the SPI is of structure (12).m1=0.1-0.9;n1=0.1-0.9;k1=3-1000;m2=0.2-0.8;n2=0.2-0.8; andk2=3-1000.Preferred Composition: The solid acid is 0.1-40 pbw based on 100 pbw polymer matrix. EXAMPLE - A calixresorcinarene compound was prepared by dissolving 33.03 g resorcinol (compound A) and 13.22 g acetaldehyde dissolved in 300 ml of a 50 vol.% aqueous ethanol solution and the result was heated to 75degreesC. About 75 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid was slowly added to the resulting mixture and the reaction was maintained at 75degreesC for 1 hour. The resultant mixture was cooled with ice water and a precipitate was filtered through a glass filter. The filtered solution was evaporated and the precipitate was separated again. The precipitate was recrystallized using a 50 vol.% aqueous ethanol solution to obtain the calixresorcinarene compound. A polymer electrolyte membrane was prepared by dissolving SPEEK and calixresorcinare in dimethylsulfoxide and cast. The resulting mixture was dried at 80degreesC for 24 hours, and the polymer electrolyte membrane was immersed in distilled water for 24 hours. The thickness, ionic conductivity and methanol permeability of each of the polymer electrolyte membranes prepared were measured, and results showed that solid acid improved ionic conductivity without a deleterious effect on methanol permeability.