Patent 7316854 was granted and assigned to Toyota on January, 2008 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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.