Hans-Heinrich Möbius and the Development of Electrochemistry with Solid Electrolytes

Abstract

The development of the electrochemistry using solid electrolytes at high temperatures is very closely connected with the name of Hans-Heinrich Mobius [1]. This field of electrochemistry is relatively young and has developed after Carl Wagner’s discovery (for the first time mentioned in 1943) of the unipolar mobility of oxide ions in the Nernst’s glower (stabilized zirconia) [2]. In some mixed oxides with fluorite structure, the conductivity increases exponentially with increasing temperature due to the migration of oxide ions via oxide ion vacancies. Karl Haufe made his doctor thesis under Wagner’s supervision. Haufe, in turn, was Professor from 1948 to 1952 at the University of Greifswald and inspired his student Horst Peters to investigate the structure of mixed oxide based on zirconia by X-ray diffraction. Peters defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Rostock. Based on his ideas, Horst Peters together with Hans-Heinrich Mobius started the investigation on fuel cells based on solid electrolytes like zirconia in Rostock in 1954. Later, in 1960 Mobius moved as a senior assistant to the University of Greifswald because for this research the scientific conditions at the Institute of Physical Chemistry in Greifswald, where the director, Prof. H. Witzmann, worked on luminescence and catalysis of solids [3] were more attractive.