Described is a curable composition that includes a salt comprising an alkali cation or rare earth metal ion and a counter ion which is the conjugate base of a superacid, a silicon containing binder, and an additive having a formula R1-O—[(CH2—CHR3)-O]n—R2, in which R1 and R2 represent H or an alkyl group, R3 is H or methyl, and n is an integer ranging from 2 to 200. Said composition is typically provided as a coating or hard coating. When cured, the composition provides good antistatic performance on its surface or to a surface on which it is applied. The composition when formed may also provide high optical transparency. The composition when formed exhibits low haze and good mechanical properties, such as good abrasion resistance, or good scratch resistance, or good mar resistance to its surface or to the surface on which it is applied.