A new strategy to prepare phosphonic acid-functionalized hollow silica spheres is proposed via nitroxide mediated polymerization of diisopropyl p-vinylbenzyl phosphonate on the surface of hollow silica spheres (HSSs) and hydrolysis thereafter The thickness of the organic layer of PVBPA can be controlled by the quantity of the monomers The structure and morphology of poly(vinylbenzyl phosphonic acid) (PVBPA) grafted HSSs (HPSSs) are confirmed by FUR and TEM. The addition of HPSS in PVBPA membranes can improve the water retentivity of the composite membranes The composite membranes with HPSSs exhibit higher water uptake and proton conductivity than the pure PVBPA membranes (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved