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A Novel Glass Membrane for Low Temperature H 2 /O 2 Fuel Cell Electrolytes
Author(s) -
Uma T.,
Nogami M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200700006
Subject(s) - electrolyte , phosphomolybdic acid , phosphotungstic acid , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , materials science , electrochemistry , chemical engineering , membrane electrode assembly , membrane , electrode , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , catalysis , chromatography , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
A novel structure for an H 2 /O 2 fuel cell with a proton conducting glass electrolyte and a Pt/C catalyst was developed. The performance of the fuel cell, which was impregnated with a glass electrolyte and a gaseous hydrogen–oxygen feed at low temperature in a humidified atmosphere was significantly improved by introducing membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) consisting of heteropolyacids (HPAs) (phosphotungstic acid, PWA and phosphomolybdic acid, PMA) doped with a P 2 O 5 ‐SiO 2 glass electrolyte. The HPAs containing porous glass electrolytes show promise for applications in low temperature H 2 /O 2 fuel cells. The electrochemical behaviour of these materials was studied by measuring the current–voltage profile from polarisation curves. A maximum power density of ≈ 35 mW cm –2 was obtained at 30 °C and 30% RH (relative humidity) using a PMA/PWA‐P 2 O 5 ‐SiO 2 glass electrolyte membrane. The impedance measurements displaying the total cell ohmic resistance for 12 h at 0.5 V were evaluated at 30 °C. The resistance value was 3.5 Ω for an operating time of 12 h. This MEA showed the best and the most stable performance for use in an H 2 /O 2 fuel cell.