TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The immobilized polyoxometalate layer further comprises an electrolyte membrane material. The polyoxometalate anion comprises addenda- and hetero-elements. The conductive electrode comprises a conductive metal or graphitic material. The support catalyst comprises platinum black and/or reduced platinum salt. The electrolyte membrane comprises a perfluorosulfonated ionomer electrolyte membrane. The immobilized polyozometalate layer (618) comprises phosphorus. The immobilized polyozometalate layer comprises substantially monodispersed crystallites containing silicon. The addenda-element is tungsten, molybdenum, and/or vanadium. The hetero-element is silicon and/or phosphorus. The support substance comprises carbon black. Preferred Properties: The thickness of immobilized polyoxometalate layer is 0.1-5 mu m. The immobilized polyoxometalate layer has a platinum loading of 0.1-1 mg Pt/cm2. The conductive electrode has an electrical resistance of 20 m.( Omega ).cm2. The immobilized polyozometalate layer comprises substantially monodispersed crystallite having diameter of 0.5-2 mu m.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The polyoxometalate electrode comprises an immobilized polyoxometalate layer positioned on an conductive electrode. The immobilized polyoxmetalate layer comprises a polyoxometalate anion chemically bonded to a support substance through a functional entity. The polyoxometalate anion and functional entity are chemically bonded together by one of oxygen-silicon bond (-O-Si-), oxygen-phosphorus bond (-O-P-), oxygen-tin bond (-O-Sn-), oxygen-titanium bond (-O-Ti-), oxygen-germanium bond (-O-Ge-) and oxygen-zinc bond (-O-Zn-). The chemical bond linking the support substance and functional entity are chemically bonded together by one of -CH2-, -CHR1-, -CR1R2-, -S-, -NH-, -NR1-, -N=N-, -CH2CH2-, -C(=O)O-, or -O-, where R1 and/or R2=alkyl or aryl. The polyoxometalate electrode is in contact with methanol, dimethyl ether, and/or perfluorosulfonated ionomer. The functional entity comprises silane, phosphate or phosphate ester, phosphonate or phosphonate ester, and/or phosphinate or phosphinate ester.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - TEXTILES AND PAPER - Preferred Composition: The conductive backing comprises graphitized carbon fiber-based non-woven, paper and/or felt.