The present invention provides new amorphous or partially crystalline mixed anionchalcogenide compounds for use in proton exchange membranes which are able to operate over a wide variety of temperature ranges, including in the intermediate temperature range of about 100 ° C. to 300° C., and new uses for crystallinemixed anion chalcogenide compounds in such proton exchange membranes. In one embodiment, the proton conductivity of the compounds is between about 10−8 S/cm and 10−1 S/cm within a temperature range of between about −60 and300° C. and a relative humidity of less than about 12%.