A Sol-Gel-Derived Glass as a Fuel Cell Electrolyte

Abstract

A fuel cell electrolyte based on an inorganic glass membrane with a high proton conductivity is described by these authors. The binary glass used (P2O5–SiO2)—prepared by reacting PO(CH3)3 with hydrolyzed Si(OC2H5)4—is demonstrated to not only be useful as a proton conductor in hydrogen fuel cells but also as a hydrogen gas sensor. Because of its good chemical stability and promising performance in H2–O2 fuel cells it is believed that P2O5–SiO2 could replace perfluorinated ionomers as the electrolyte in these cells.