Zirconium meta-sulfonphenyl phosphonic acid (Zr-msPPA)/Nafion (R) composite membranes were prepared to reduce methanol permeability of the Nafion (R) 117 membrane in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. Zr-msPPA crystalline nano proton conductors were synthesized inside the membranes via the reaction of zirconium chloride octahydrate and meta-sulfonphenyl phosphonic acid that had been soaked prior. Synthesis of the Zr-msPPA in the membranes was identified from a series of chemical and physical structure characterizations using FTIR, NMR, EDS, and XRD spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the composite membranes was enhanced by addition of the Zr-msPPA, with considerable reduction in methanol permeability with increasing Zr-msPPA content, as the Zr-msPPA nano conductors acted as crystalline barriers to methanol permeation. The ion conductivity also decreased with increasing Zr-msPPA content, but its effect was not as strong as with methanol permeation given the innate, high conductivity of Zr-msPPA. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.