TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Method: The method comprises: preparing the copolymer, adding the copolymer to a dispersion comprising the proton conducting ionomer, removing solvent from the dispersion and providing a solid mixture of the copolymer and the proton conducting ionomer, and heating the mixture; adding the metal oxide monomers with crosslinking functional groups and the metal oxide monomers with other functional groups to a dispersion comprising the proton conducting ionomer and making the copolymer in situ in the dispersion, removing solvent from the dispersion and providing a solid mixture of the copolymer and the proton conducting ionomer, and heating the mixture; preparing the copolymer, adding the copolymer to a dispersion comprising a precursor for the proton conducting ionomer, removing solvent from the dispersion and providing a solid mixture of the copolymer and the precursor, heating the mixture and converting the precursor to the proton conducting ionomer; preparing the metal oxide monomers with crosslinking functional groups by hydrolyzing unhydrolyzed metal oxide monomers with crosslinking functional groups; and preparing the metal oxide monomers with other functional groups by hydrolyzing unhydrolyzed metal oxide monomers with other functional groups. The copolymer is prepared by preparing a solution comprising the metal oxide monomers with crosslinking functional groups and the metal oxide monomers with other functional groups, and heating the solution to a reaction temperature for a period of time and forming the copolymer in solution. The step of hydrolyzing and the making of the copolymer are performed in the same solution. Preferred Components: The unhydrolyzed metal oxide monomers with crosslinking functional groups are 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, aminophenyltrimethoxysilane, or 3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propyl-trimethoxysilane. The unhydrolyzed metal oxide monomers with other functional groups are (2-diethylphosphatoethyl)triethoxysilane. The solution comprises at least two different metal oxide monomers with other functional groups. The solution comprises metal oxide monomers with free radical scavenger functional groups and the free radical scavenger functional groups are hydrolyzed 3-amino-4-nitrophenyl-triethoxysilane. EXAMPLE - (2-Diethylphosphatoethyl)triethoxysilane (48 g) was hydrolyzed in a flask by dissolving 37% of hydrochloric acid while nitrogen bubbled into the solution. The solution was heated to 85 degrees C and maintained under constant stirring for 24 hours. The product was then cooled to 50 degrees C and the hydrochloric acid were removed under reduced pressure to form light yellow, viscous product.