Patent ID: 7371480

Claim:
A proton-exchange membrane having a structure of mesogen-containing organic molecular chains and a proton-donating group-containing group covalent-bonding to a silicon-oxygen three-dimensional crosslinked matrix, in which at least a part of the organic molecular chains are oriented to form an aggregate thereof, and a sulfonic acid sol is used, the sulfonic acid sol being obtained through oxidization of a solution that contains an organosilicon compound of the following formula (IV), and an organosilicon compound of the following formula (VI) and/or (VII): wherein A 3 represents the following formula (XIII): wherein Q 11 and Q 12 each represent a divalent linking group or a single bond; Y 11 is a divalent, 4- to 7-membered ring residue, or a condensed ring residue composed of such rings; and m9 indicates an integer of from 1 to 3; R 4 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; R 5 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a silyl group; Y represents a polymerizing group capable of forming a carbon-carbon bond or a carbon-oxygen bond through polymerization; m 41 indicates an integer of from 1 to 3; n 41 indicates 1 or 2; n 42 indicates 0 or 1; when m 41 is 2 or more, R 5 may be the same or different, wherein B 2 and B 3 each represent a linking group that contains an aliphatic group and/or an aromatic group; R 8 and R 10 each represent an alkyl group or an aryl group; m6 and m7 each indicate a integer of from 1 to 3; n6 and n7 each indicate an integer from 1 to 4; R 9 and R 11 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a silyl group; when m6 or m7 is 2 or more, R 9 or R 11 may be the same or different.