A Proton Conducting Electrolyte Based on Imidazole Supported Inorganic Porous Matrix for the Unhumidified Intermediate Temperature Fuel Cell

• Published in: ECS transactions Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 123 - 129
• Main Authors: Hojo, Nobuhiko, Yamamoto, Taisuke, Okada, Yukihiro, Niikura, Junji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.09.2007
• ISSN: 1938-5862; 1938-6737
• DOI: 10.1149/1.2780922

A proton conducting electrolyte based on imidazole supported inorganic porous matrix was examined to obtain the proton conductor that can operate without humidification at intermediate temperature. The proton conductivity of composite electrolytes with large pore size(0.1μm, 10μm) showed high at higher temperature than 363K, and dropped at lower temperature than 363K as well as imidazole(bulk). However the proton conductivity of composite electrolytes with small pore size(4nm) did not drop even at lower than 363K, that is, showed good temperature dependency. In addition coupling acid functional groups on the pore surfaces contribute to the raise of proton conductivity. These results suggest that high proton conductivity at wide range of temperature without humidification could be achieved by controlling pore size and the acid functional groups coupled with the pore surfaces.