A fuel cell component is made with a composite including a proton conducting polymer, a water insoluble proton conducting inorganic material, and a heteropolyacid immobilized by chemically bonding to the inorganic material. In another embodiment, the fuel cell component is made with a composite including a non-proton conducting polymer, a water insoluble inorganic material, and a heteropolyacid immobilized by chemically bonding to the inorganic material, the heteropolyacid causing the composite to show proton conductivity. In a further embodiment, the fuel cell component is made with a composite comprising a proton conducting polymer, a water insoluble proton conducting inorganic material, and a heteropolyacid immobilized by chemically bonding to the inorganic material, the composite having substantially identical structure of the unmodified heteropolyacid.