PROTON CONDUCTIVITY OF TUNGSTEN TRIOXIDE HYDRATES AT INTERMEDIATE TEMPERATURE

Fuel cells utilizing proton-conducting polymer membranes (PEFC) are thought to be a most promising power source for environmentally acceptable electric vehicles. To date perfluorosulphonic membranes (Nafions) have been used almost exclusively for this type of fuel cells. However, the high price of such membranes is a great problem. Moreover, the operating temperature of most PEFCs is limited to 100°C or lower due to heat-resistance limitations of the membranes, though higher temperature is desirable for some reasons, for example, that the polarization could be reduced and the water balance control in fuel cell system would be easier. For fuel cells fed with reformed gas, higher operation temperature is especially needed to protect catalysts from the poisoning by carbon monoxide. In addition, the total efficiency of a system including a reformer could be improved because recovery of heat would be easier at elevated temperature. Therefore, some alternative materials including organic/inorganic composites have been studied to develop a less expensive and more heat-resistive membrane…

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