TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The first and second precursors are selected to form a sulfonated silica ionomer in the polymerizing. The step (a) includes forming a mixture of the first and second precursors and the carbon-supported catalyst in the presence of a base which catalyzes the polymerizing, where the mixture further comprises water and a lower alcohol. The method (M1) further comprises drying the sol-gel, subsequent to step (b), to remove solvent and forming the sol-gel by mixing the first and second precursors and carbon-supported catalyst such that the carbon-supported catalyst becomes embedded in the matrix of the ionomer during the at least partially polymerizing step. The method (M2) further comprises forming the sol-gel composition by mixing the first and second precursors, water, lower alcohol and carbon-supported catalyst in the presence of the base prior to coating the substrate. Preferred Components: The ratio of sulfonated and unsulfonated polymer units is 0.02-0.4. The catalyst comprises at least one of platinum, ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, iron, manganese and iridium, and the substrate comprises a proton exchange membrane, or microporous layer and a gas diffusion layer directly bonded to the microporous layer. The material is substantially free of Nafion (RTM: Tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonic acid copolymer). The proton exchange membrane comprises a material comprising Nafion (RTM: Tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonic acid copolymer), sulfonated hydrocarbon-based membranes including sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), composite containing at least one inorganic component, including Nafion (RTM: Tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro-3,6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octenesulfonic acid copolymer)/silicon dioxide, SPEEK/silicon dioxide or sulfonated siloxanes of formula (A1). The sulfonated organosilane is of formula (Si(LG)3(R)) (I). The reaction product of the first and second precursors is a sulfonated silica ionomer. The second precursor is substituted silane compound of formula (Si(LG)(R1a)(R2a)) (II). The silica precursor is (II). The ionomer comprises siloxy group containing compounds of formula (-O-(Si(O-)2-O)y-(Si(R)(O-)-O)x) (III), where x/y is 0.05-1.R1, R2 = substituent groups;y = 0-1;x = 1-y;R = sulfanylalkyl, sulfanylaryl, sulfanylalkylaryl, sulfanylarylalkyl or sulfanylalkylarylalkyl, preferably 3-sulfo-propyl, sulfonyl substituted propyl benzene, 4-sulfo phenyl or 4-sulfo benzyl;LG = leaving group, preferably alkoxy, Cl, Br, OH, aryloxy, arylalkoxy or alkylaryloxy; andR1a, R2a = alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl (all optionally substituted by F, OH or methyl) or leaving group, preferably methyl, ethyl, vinyl, propyl, CF3CH2CH2-, C6H5CH2CH2, benzyl or phenyl. EXAMPLE - 20% Platinum on Vulcan XC72 (RTM: Carbon black) was weighed in a clean, dry glass beaker. Deionized water was added. The water and carbon-supported catalyst mixture were stirred, after which additions of methanol and 6 M ammonium hydroxide were made. Tetraethylorthosilicate and 3-(trihydroxysilyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid were added. The beaker was covered with parafilm wax. The solution was stirred. The samples were placed in a drying oven at 135 degrees C overnight. Dried samples were finely ground. The resulting mixture was allowed to gel for 72 hours after which point the partially gelled ceramic carbon electrode was spray deposited onto gas diffusion layer. The resulting electrodes was dried for 30 minutes.