Mesoporous composites made of silica and alpha-zirconium phosphate (SiO2.xZrP) were synthesized starting from mixtures of delaminated ZrP dispersions and tetrapropylammonium oligosilicate solutions. The surface area of the composites reaches a maximum of 700 m(2)/g for x approximate to 0.02, while the average pore diameter is about 40 A for x in the range 0.05-0.35. In order to increase proton conductivity at low relative humidity (r.h.), SiO2.xZrP.yH(3)PO(4) composites were prepared and characterised by Si-29 and P-31 MAS NMR and conductivity measurements. At 100 degreesC and 6%, r.h., the conductivity of the composites, with H3PO4 loadings of 80% of the pore volume, rises from 5 x 10(-4) to 2 x 10(-2) S/cm for x decreasing between 0.35 and 0.05, as a consequence of the concomitant increase of pore volume. For the composite with x=0.18, the dependence of conductivity on H3PO4 loading was also investigated at different temperatures and r.h. values. The combined increase of humidity, temperature and H3PO4 loading results in an increase of conductivity from 1 x 10(-7) S/cm (y=0.09, T=25 degreesC, 0% r.h.) to 4 x 10(-2) S/cm (y=0.61, T=100 degreesC, 30% r.h.). SiO2.0.18ZrP.0.61H(3)PO(4) was also tested as a proton electrolyte in an oxygen sensor consisting of a disk of the composite sandwiched between a platinum sensing electrode and a reference electrode based on Ni1-xO. The sensor is able to detect O-2 at room temperature in a dry environment with a response time of 20-30 s. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.