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An electrochemical device and a proton conducting medium for use in an electrochemical device having a proton conducting electrolyte comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, Q is the flu

An electrochemical device and a proton conducting medium for use in an electrochemical device having a proton conducting electrolyte comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, Q is the fluoroborate or fluoroheteroborate anion, n ranges from 0.01 to 1000, a ranges from 0.01 to 2 and b ranges from 0 to 2, a and b are chosen to render the formula electrically neutral, and when b is greater than 0, the ratio of b to a is less than 100 to 1.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A medium comprising a hydrated polyhedral fluoroborate or fluoroheteroborate acid or acid salt comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, Q is the fluorobor

The invention claimed is: 1. A medium comprising a hydrated polyhedral fluoroborate or fluoroheteroborate acid or acid salt comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, Q is the fluoroborate or fluoroheteroborate anion, n is sufficient to form a liquid, a ranges from 0.01 to 2 and b ranges from 0 to 2, a and b are chosen to render the formula electrically neutral, and O2; and wherein said medium is within a matrix. 2. The medium of claim 1, further wherein b is 0, and a is 1 or 2. 3. The medium of claim 1 further comprising a mixture of HaQ.nH2O, and HaMbQ.nH2O. 4. The medium of claim 3 further comprising a mixture of HaQ.nH2O, and HaMbQ.nH2O in molar proportions ranging from 1:10 to 100:1. 5. The medium of claim 1, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of the elements of Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 13, and the Lanthanide series, and cobalt, zirconium, hafnium, nickel, and ammonium and organic substituted ammonium cations. 6. The medium of claim 1 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of tetraethylammonium, tetrabutylammonimum, triethylammonium, monomethylammonium, dimethylammonium trimethylammonium, tetramethylammonium, imidazolium, and n-alkyl imidazolium. 7. The medium of claim 1 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs, Mg, Ca, Ba, Al, Zr, or mixtures of those elements. 8. The medium of claim 1 further comprising a second protocon conducting electrolyte selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, alkane sulfonic acid, fluoroalkanesulfonic acid, or sulfuric acid. 9. The medium of claim 1, wherein said matrix comprises a polymer. 10. The medium of claim 9 wherein said polymer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of perfluorosulfonic acids, polyethylene oxide, polyimides, and polysulfones. 11. The medium of claim 9 wherein said polymer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyridine, polyaniline, polybenzimidazole, polybenzoxazoles. 12. The medium of claim 1 wherein said matrix comprises a porous matrix. 13. The medium of claim 12 wherein said porous matrix comprises microglass fibers, silicon carbide, boron nitride, or porous carbon materials. 14. The medium of claim 1, wherein Q comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: (i) the closo-borate anion of composition (B12FxZ12-x)2- or (B10FxZ10-x)2- where Z is H, Cl, Br or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 3 to 12 or from 2 to 10 respectively; (ii) the closo-ammoniofluoroborate anion compositions of formula ((R'R"R'")NB12FxZ(11-x))1- or ((R'R"R'")NB10FxZ(9-x))1-, where N is bonded to B and each of R', R", R'" is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and a polymeric group; Z is H, Cl, Br, or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 0 to 11 or from 0 to 9 respectively; and (iii) the closo-monocarborate anion compositions of formula (R""CB11FxZ(11-x))1- or (R""CB9FxZ(9-x))1-, where R"" is bonded to C and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and a polymeric group, Z is H, Cl, Br, or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 0 to 11 or from 0 to 9, respectively. 15. The medium of claim 1, wherein Q comprises a closo-borate anion of composition (B12FxZ12-x)2- or (B10FxZ12-x)2- where Z is H, Cl, Br or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 3 to 12 or 2 to 10 respectively. 16. The medium of claim 1, wherein Q comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: B12F122-; or B12FxH12-x2- where x is 3 to 12 on an average basis; B12(OR)xH12-x2- or B12Fx (OR)12-x2- where R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl and x is 3 to 12 on an average basis; B12F11N(R'R"R'")1- where R', R", and R'" are independently selected alkyls, or B12Fx Cl12-x2- where x is 3 to 12 on an average basis. 17. The medium of claim 1, comprising H2B12F12.nH2O. 18. The medium of claim 1 further comprising at least one acid and said matrix comprises at least one porous matrix. 19. The medium of claim 18 wherein the acid comprises phosphoric acid and the porous matrix comprises silicon carbide. 20. A protocon conducting medium for use in an electrochemical device comprising: a protocon conducting electrolyte comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, n is sufficient to form a liquid electrolyte, a ranges from 0.01 to 2 and b ranges from 0 to 2, a and b are chosen to render the formula electrically neutral,--, and Q comprises at least one closo-borate anion comprising (B12FxZ12-x)2- or (B10FxZ10-x)2- where Z is H, Cl, Br or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 3 to 12 or from 2 to 10 respectively; and further comprising O2. 21. The protocon conducting medium of claim 20 wherein said medium is used in an electrochemical device selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell, an electrolyzer or a hydrogen sensor. 22. The protocon conducting medium of claim 20 wherein said medium is used in an electrochemical device comprising a hydrogen anode and an oxygen cathode. 23. The protocon conducting medium of claim 21 wherein said fuel cell comprises a liquid electrolyte. 24. The medium of claim 20 further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polymer and a porous matrix. 25. A medium comprising: a protocon conducting electrolyte comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, n is sufficient to form a liquid, a ranges from 0.01 to 2 and b ranges from 0 to 2, a and b are chosen to render the formula electrically neutral, and Q comprises at least one member from the group consisting of: i) closo-borate anion comprising (B12FxZ12-x)2- or (B10FxZ10-x)2- where Z is H, Cl, Br or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 3 to 12 or from 2 to 10 respectively; (ii) the closo-ammoniofluoroborate anion compositions of formula ((R'R"R'")NB12FxZ(11-x))1- or ((R'R"R'")NB10FxZ(9-x))1-, where N is bonded to B and each of R', R", R'" is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and a polymeric group; Z is H, Cl, Br, or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 0 to 11 or from 0 to 9 respectively; and (iii) the closo-monocarborate anion compositions of formula (R""CB11FxZ(11-x))1- or (R""CB9FxZ(9-x))1-, where R"" is bonded to C and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and a polymeric group, Z is H, Cl, Br, or OR, where R is H, alkyl or fluoroalkyl, and x, on an average basis, ranges from 0 to 11 or from 0 to 9, respectively, and wherein the medium further comprises O2. 26. A fuel cell medium comprising: a protocon conducting electrolyte comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, n is sufficient to form a liquid electrolyte, a ranges from 0.01 to 2, a and b are chosen to render the formula electrically neutral, and Q comprises (B12F12)2-; and further comprising O2; and, wherein said electrolyte is within a matrix. 27. The medium of claim 26 wherein said formula comprises H2B12F12.nH2O. 28. The medium of claim 26 wherein said O2 is dissolved in said electrolyte. 29. The medium of claim 26 wherein said proton conducting electrolyte is liquid at a water vapor pressure above about 250 torr and a temperature from about 20 to about 200�� C. 30. A fuel cell membrane comprising: a liquid comprising the formula: description="In-line Formulae" end="lead"HaMbQ.nH2Odescription="In-line Formulae" end="tail" where H is a proton, M is a cation, n is greater than 1, a ranges from 0.01 to 2, a and b are chosen to render the formula electrically neutral, and Q comprises (B12F12)2-; and further comprising O2, a support thereby forming a membrane. 31. The membrane of claim 30 wherein said formula comprises H2B12F12.nH2O.