Abstract: A proton conducting material and proton conducting membrane which have high proton conductivity, high strength, flexibility (strong against deformation), and high size stability when swollen (water absorbed) are provided. The proton conducting material and the proton conducting membrane are formed by crosslinking the unit structure of a layered clay mineral, wherein a polyvalent metal ion is incorporated between layers of the layered clay mineral.

Abstract: A proton conductive membrane according to the invention includes layered clay mineral powder which is a cation exchanger or an anion exchanger, and a crosslinking structure including an —O—SO2—O— group which crosslinks particles of the layered clay mineral powder. The proton conductive membrane may be obtained by applying a modifying agent which contains one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid and metal sulfates, to the layered clay mineral powder, each particle of the layered clay mineral powder having an acid site on a surface thereof. Thus, a phosphoric acid-derived compound which crosslinks the particles of the layered clay mineral powder is replaced by the sulfuric acid which is a stronger acid, whereby the proton conducting ability of the proton conductive membrane can be improved.

Abstract: A proton conduction material having high proton conductivity and exhibiting high reactive gas permeability regardless of the percentage of water content is provided. This proton conduction material consists of a polymer material whose molecular structure has a strong acid functional group. This polymer material consists of a polymer of a mixture of a monomer having an end structure expressed by a formula (1) or a vinyl radical and a monomer expressed by a formula (2). A strong acid functional group is included in the structure of both the monomers. It is to be noted herein that R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 represent a hydrocarbon radical, a fluoro-substituted hydrocarbon radical, or a trimethylsiloxy radical. Because introduction of a structure in which a hydrocarbon radical is bonded to silicon weakens interaction and causes bulkiness, gaps are created among atoms. If the number of the gaps among the atoms increases, the diffusion coefficient of reactive gases increases.

Abstract: A proton conducting material and proton conducting membrane which have high proton conductivity, high strength, flexibility (strong against deformation), and high size stability when swollen (water absorbed) are provided. The proton conducting material and the proton conducting membrane are formed by crosslinking the unit structure of a layered clay mineral, wherein a polyvalent metal ion is incorporated between layers of the layered clay mineral.

Abstract: A proton conduction material having high proton conductivity and exhibiting high reactive gas permeability regardless of the percentage of water content is provided. This proton conduction material consists of a polymer material whose molecular structure has a strong acid functional group. This polymer material consists of a polymer of a mixture of a monomer having an end structure expressed by a formula (1) or a vinyl radical and a monomer expressed by a formula (2).

Abstract: A proton conductive membrane according to the invention includes layered clay mineral powder which is a cation exchanger or an anion exchanger, and a crosslinking structure including an —O—SO2—O— group which crosslinks particles of the layered clay mineral powder. The proton conductive membrane may be obtained by applying a modifying agent which contains one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid and metal sulfates, to the layered clay mineral powder, each particle of the layered clay mineral powder having an acid site on a surface thereof. Thus, a phosphoric acid-derived compound which crosslinks the particles of the layered clay mineral powder is replaced by the sulfuric acid which is a stronger acid, whereby the proton conducting ability of the proton conductive membrane can be improved.